Horn Effect Bias

Assume there is a team member who dresses very badly for work but greatly exceeds expectations in the completion of tasks assigned.

Would you rate the employee exceeds expectations or below expectations?

Horn effect is the opposite of halo effect and involves managers using an overwhelming negative trait about a team member to cloud their judgement about the team member's other positive contributions.

In the above example, a manager can avoid horn effect bias by:

1. being more aware of such a type of bias and how it clouds one's judgement
2. objectively giving developmental feedback about the negative trait and tracking the team member's progress
3. citing actual examples of good behaviour