Life is unfair. We are often misunderstood. Factors too numerous to count may have an effect on a message in transit. Have you ever played "telephone"? Prime example of how a message can be crumpled, straightened, crumpled again, wet, dried, burned, shredded, then pieced together by the recipient and then interpreted to be something entirely other than the original.
Sometimes we are evaluated by how effective we are in our conveyance of messages. However, is it ALWAYS the burden of the person conveying the message, or should the recipient have some responsibility in the matter? Should the general attitude of both be taken into account? Might that be the biggest factor in how a message is conveyed, and/or received? It has been my experience that, often, people get lazy and want to use your brain instead of their own. When you are growing something as important as a person who will have other people's lives in their hands, you cannot allow that to happen. Sometime, they don't like that. If I don't know the answer to the question, should I not refer that person to someone who might be more proficient in that area? Or should I wing it and possibly have a situation where someone is learning the wrong information. If they use that answer forevermore, a great disservice has been done. Possibly a very dangerous one.
Any person who has to evaluate a large number of people has to rely on the perceptions of the evaluee's cohorts to determine that persons strengths and weaknesses. They cannot, nor should they, be at that person's side constantly to evaluate every area for themselves.But, to be fair, do they listen to only one side of the story, or do they ask all parties for their input to determine the truth of the matter? Especially if it is something they have heard more than once. And, if it is something that if it continues, will be to the detriment to all involved, shouldn't it be brought to the perceived offender's attention long before an evaluation? Should it not be important enough to try to remedy, if it is important enough to put in an evaluation? HOW is anyone to correct a fault they don't even know they have?  Should we not want everyone in the chain of command to succeed in their bailiwick, not just the newbies?
I have prided myself on being one of the strongest resource persons my new nurses have. Until just recently, I frequently received kudos in just that area. How is it that I have suddenly become so bad at it, and how is it that I'm only hearing about it when it is time to put something on paper, and give monetary rewards for effectiveness. Being blindsided is not good incentive for anything.
Life is unfair. I protest. And the source made it all the more painful.