Traditional appraisal and evaluation systems focus almost exclusively on an employee's past performance. The desired result in each of these systems is better work performance. The very nature of most appraisals or evaluations, however, may inhibit performance unintentionally by focusing energy, attention and effort on past shortcomings rather than future successes. An alternative form of evaluation, now in use at Bates College, is designed to foster a genuine, open dialogue between the employee and the supervisor. Through this process, called the Conversations Document, employees and supervisors work together to find solutions to performance challenges.