Let's look at this as if this bowler was an employee and assume he/she really wants to be on the team and this is the end of year performance review:
Captain: So, we came in 2nd this year, how do you feel about the year in general and your impact to our 2nd place finish?
Bowler: As a bowler on a team in 2nd, I would like to think some of the success can be attributed to my performance. I have tried my best 100% of the time regardless of individual outcomes. I have been a good teammate by not ratting out other members of their alcohol consumption to their significant others nor have I called the cops as the drive off bouncing off the curbs. I also bring the Hooter's cards every week so I feel moral is better when I bowl.
Captain: Haha, yeah, last week was a rough one on me and those cards are nice even though they are from the 1997 Hooter's Calendar. Do you feel you have reached your max potential?
Bowler: I believe everyone can always improve so no, I feel there is room for growth and ultimately more better future success for this team and myself.
Captain: Can you give me examples of what you did/try this past year to improve during the season?
Bowler: I practiced a couple of times and I read BallReviews.com daily trying to weed out the good information from the bad. Sometimes I get caught up in the day-to-day bickering, but I feel I have strengthened my mental game. Plus, I adjust my surfaces every week according to the gospel of charlest.
Captain: Have you tried the Griips Glove?
Bowler: No, what is that?
Captain: Nevermind. So you practiced only a couple of times, do you feel that amount of effort was enough for real improvement? Most other team members put in 2-4 practice sessions a month, let alone a year.
Bowler: Well, I didn't realize other members were practicing that much. No one on the team ever approached me concerning the amount of practice I was doing. Practice, we're talking about PRACTICE?!? Plus, I had the highest average on the team so I felt for the time-being I was doing more than adequate.
Captain: Well, in reality, as anchor, I feel like I shouldn't have to try in the tenth frame of games, you know
, and am looking for more performance from the 4. Kinda like a Tim Duncan instead of a Kevin Love.
Bowler: I get the impression you are thinking of looking in a different direction for next year based on this conversation. And if we are talking about expectations, I was looking for more from the 5 for this team, more Shaquille O'Neal and less Dwight Howard, if you know what I mean.
Anyway..................................
I think it is unfair to hold something like amount of practice over someone's head after the fact. If the bowler would have had the same year, yet you finished in 1st, would you say the same thing? If the bowler didn't show up to scheduled practice sessions, not contribute behind the lanes or just not fit chemistry-wise, then I get it. But to base it on amount of practice and not actual performance (which you did not mention) then I feel it is not right. It depends on what the expectation was. And it seems you have high expectations of your teammates.
