Are Your Performance Reviews Actually Making Your Company Worse? 

Research shows up to 90% of managers are unhappy with traditional performance management systems - and for good reason. These systems often create what OnLoop founder JJ Ghatak calls "intellectual drudgery" while failing to drive real performance improvements or deliver actionable insights. In this compelling episode of The Learn-It-All Podast, Ghatak shares how his experiences as an Uber executive and Stanford MBA led him to completely reimagine performance management for the AI era. 

Through his work with OnLoop, Ghatak explores how companies can move beyond ineffective form-filling exercises to create genuine clarity, alignment and growth. He examines why current systems perpetuate workplace inequities, how AI can help level the playing field, and why emotional intelligence - not just cognitive ability - will become increasingly crucial as AI transforms knowledge work. Whether you're frustrated with your current performance management approach or simply want to build higher-performing teams, this conversation offers practical insights for modern leaders. 

 This Episode Covers: 

• Why traditional performance management systems fail and how they often reinforce workplace inequities through "eloquence bias" 
• The five key layers of collaborative team development, starting with energy and motivation 
• How AI can help extract meaningful insights from unstructured feedback while reducing administrative burden 
• Why asking for feedback is more important than learning how to give it 
• Why emotional intelligence and relationship-building will become more valuable than pure cognitive ability in the AI era 
• The importance of psychological safety and trust in creating real performance improvements 
• How to translate organizational clarity from the C-suite to every level of the company 

Episode Highlights:  

(00:00) Introduction to Projjal Ghatak – Damon introduces Projjal, CEO of OnLoop, and sets the stage for a discussion on rethinking performance management. 

(02:00) The Problem with Traditional Reviews – Projjal explains why current systems create intellectual drudgery and fail to deliver meaningful results. 

(05:30) The Five Pillars of Performance – Projjal introduces his collaborative team development framework, emphasizing energy, goals, feedback, and growth. 

(09:00) Aligning Individual and Team Goals – Projjal discusses how transparency and clarity around goals improve engagement and outcomes. 

(12:33) Building a Culture of Feedback – Projjal highlights the importance of regular, structured feedback in fostering personal and organizational growth. 

(17:00) Leveraging AI for Equity – Projjal explains how AI can reduce bias in feedback and performance reviews, creating a more level playing field. 

(21:30) Leadership and Emotional Intelligence – Projjal shares tips for leaders on fostering trust, vulnerability, and connection within their teams. 

(33:18) Practical Applications of OnLoop – Projjal demonstrates how OnLoop simplifies feedback and goal alignment to save time and improve results.

(47:00) The Future of AI in Knowledge Work – Projjal reflects on how AI will reshape the workforce, shifting the focus to emotional and relational skills. 

About JJ: 

JJ (Projjal) Ghatak is a tech entrepreneur, WEF Tech Pioneer, and CEO of OnLoop, where he's leveraging GenAI to transform how managers lead and develop their teams in the modern workplace. Drawing from his leadership experiences at Uber and Accenture Strategy, combined with his Stanford MBA, he founded OnLoop in 2020 to pioneer the Collaborative Team Development (CTD) approach, which is now revolutionizing management practices across leading creative agencies and tech companies. As a naturalized Singaporean and angel investor, JJ focuses on the intersection of AI, workplace productivity, and the future of work, while actively coaching CEOs and helping scale the next generation of impactful technology companies. 

 Resources Referenced: 

A Time to Lead: Mastering Your Self . . . So You Can Master Your World by Craig Dowden 

JJ Ghatak on LinkedIn 

OnLoop 

Interview Hero by OnLoop 

Uber 

Doug Conant 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: podcast@learnit.com 

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