Most people approach their performance reviews with some anxiety. Having your performance scrutinized is an uncomfortable experience. Receiving negative feedback is even more uncomfortable, particularly if you weren’t expecting it. However, you can take steps to recover from a bad performance review.
Respond in a positive, not defensive, manner. No matter how surprised or upset you feel, don’t counterattack, defend or explain. Your response will be noted and remembered. The ability to receive feedback, learn from it and grow is vital to your being viewed as a professional. If you are upset by what you have heard, ask your manager if you can think about her comments for a day or two, and then meet with her to discuss them.
Ask for specific examples of how you need to improve. Invite your manager to elaborate, and make notes about the details so you can review them later. Clarify exactly what your boss would like you to do differently.
Develop an action plan to turn things around. Receiving a less-than-stellar performance review is a call to action. Your manager gave you low ratings to encourage you to take action in those areas. See this as an opportunity for growth.
Set goals for improvement in collaboration with your boss. Be clear about what would constitute improvement in your manager’s eyes, and put it in writing so there will be no misunderstanding later on.
Identify the resources you need to make the agreed-upon improvements. If you need training, mentoring, coaching or better equipment, be sure to ask for it.
Ask for regular, timely feedback. As you begin to follow your action plan, ask for periodic feedback. Don’t wait until your next performance review to find out whether your manager feels you are making progress.
Regularly assess your own performance. Get a copy of the performance review form your manager uses and evaluate yourself. Identify concrete examples to justify your self-ratings, particularly if you give yourself top ratings in just about every category. Not only will this help you to keep an ongoing record of your progress, you will have specific examples of improvement to call to your manager’s attention at your next performance review.
Most managers don’t like giving poor performance reviews any more than we like getting them. But ultimately managers are responsible for their team’s performance, and that includes the obligation to look for areas that need to be improved. By maintaining a calm and positive demeanor and applying these strategies, you will be able to convert a bad review into a positive milestone on the road to career success.
August 30, 2010 PRODUCTIVITY: Nine ways to conserve office supplies
When using office supplies that we haven’t paid for out of our own pockets, it’s easy to forget how the cost of items like paper, binders and file folders can add up. Organizations appreciate workers who take a careful approach to using supplies. This podcast outlines nine tips for conserving office supplies. (3 min.)
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