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You don't have to be kind in appraisals, but be accurate

Chairman of world's biggest hedge fund to publish much-awaited book about his hard lessons

IN 1993, Ray Dalio, the chairman of what is today the largest hedge fund in the world, Bridgewater Associates, received a memo signed by his top three lieutenants that was startlingly honest in its assessment of him.

It was a performance review of sorts, and not in a good way. After mentioning his positive attributes, they spelled out the negatives.

"Ray sometimes says or does things to employees which makes them feel incompetent, unnecessary, humiliated, overwhelmed, belittled, pressed or otherwise bad," the memo read. "If he doesn't manage people well, growth will be stunted and we will all be affected."

To Mr Dalio, the message was both devastating and a wake-up call. His reaction: "Ugh. That...

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