Promotion write-ups are forward-looking - the next role expectations plus proof points, not a record of past work

Situation

Peter set the standard for promotion write-ups in engineering: describe what the next role requires (e.g. a Principal is a force multiplier) and use past accomplishments only as proof points that the person can meet those expectations; appreciation goes in a separate good-job, not the justification. Applied immediately: a pending Principal write-up is rewritten because the role change is large; a pending Senior write-up stands because the step is small. Nathan drafts 3 to 4 bullets of expectations per level to align with Peter.

Reasoning

Promoting on past performance produces people who excelled at the old job and are unprepared for the new one - true at every step from engineer to C-suite. A forward-looking write-up doubles as the new role description, giving the promoted person a clear message that expectations have changed. The size of the role change decides how much the write-up has to argue.

Additional Context

Extends the chair-versus-person separation from the leveling work (8/24, 9/7, 9/11) to promotions.

Observed Evidence

Direct statement of the standard and its application to two pending promotions.

Confidence Breakdown

Reasoning Depth Analysis