Dive Brief:

• A recent Gallup study of engagement data from 550 organizations with 2.2 million employees found that only about half of participants "strongly indicated" they know what is expected of them on the job.

• Think managers fared better? Gallup found that managers reported about the same rate of competence.

• Jim Harter, who posted an article at Gallup.com, says that the firm's study of great managers found it all comes down to "clarity of expectations," not job descriptions. In other words, people need to understand their role and how it relates to coworkers and the organization. Regarding the beating annual performance reviews have taken of late, he adds that clear expectations are "central to fair and useful performance management."

Dive Insight:

Harter, Chief Scientist, Workplace Management and Wellbeing, for Gallup's workplace management practice, warns that before employers look for an annual performance review alternative, they should think in terms of clarity.

And Harter believes it's not enough to just hold more conversations. What matters is what goes on during the conversations, and the relationship between employee and manager. He then cites "clarity of expectations" for being statistically linked to many important organizational outcomes, including improved customer perceptions of service quality, productivity, retention of employees and safety.