7 Tips to Deal With a Bad Performance Review
Q. "I wasn't happy with my last performance review. Should I dispute the review? Write a letter for my file? Talk to a lawyer? Or just let it go?" A. Most professionals feel you should offer some kind of response. But whether to respond, and the way to respond, will depend on your company's culture, the unwritten message and your own career goals. 1. Assess your report in light of the company's culture. In some cultures, anything but glowing praise will be viewed as negative. In others, tough reviews are the norm. Often your boss will be expected to come up with at least one point of constructive criticism. After all, nobody walks on water. But if you're being attacked or unfairly criticized, you must explore further. Sometimes you'll win more points by taking the review in stride than by fighting. But in some cultures, a single negative review means you need to start job-hunting right away. 2. Calculate your boss's strategy. Sometimes your performance report has nothing to do with you or your performance. Your boss might honestly want to see you leave the company or make sure the next promotion goes to someone else. Your boss may be a new hire who is still learning your company's culture. She may bring only good intentions. Or maybe your boss wants to get your attention: he's dropped hints and you've ignored them. Or he wants to help you progress but doesn't know how to communicate tactfully. 3. Listen for unwritten messages. Does your company have a category where a low score means you're headed for disaster? Does your boss try to tell you, "It's a great review!" when you know otherwise? Suppose you've been getting terrific reviews - and now you get slammed with a truckload of criticism. Maybe you really did have a bad year. Or maybe there's an agenda you need to understand. 4. Get the facts without getting defensive. Ask your boss to explain each criticism. For example, if your boss said your project was delivered late, get dates and times. If you're criticized for interpersonal skills, ask for specific instances. But give your boss a chance to save face. Anyone can make mistakes. An overworked, harried boss can skimp on her own data collection. You can say, without confrontation, "My records show I managed six projects, not four. Can we go over this point?" 5. Delay your response. Ask for a second meeting, explaining calmly that you need time to think. Use the time to collect your backup file. Consider a consultation with an outsider: career coach, consultant, human resources professor - even a lawyer if the situation warrants. Do not discuss your report or your decision to seek help with your peers. Ever. 6. Back up a rebuttal with facts, not emotion. Assemble your own evidence of performance. Collect letters of appreciation, dates and times of project completion, statistics showing how you helped the company. Often simply placing a rebuttal letter in your own file will defuse the impact of a negative evaluation. When you've had a strong track record, your company will ignore an occasional negative, unless there's a new agenda. Your boss may be ordered to grade on the curve, i.e., assign some employees the "low" category even if everyone's doing great. And, being human, he may assign those ratings to those who are least likely to speak up. A strong, carefully written rebuttal will clarify your strength of purpose. 7. Avoid jumping to conclusions - or to a new job. When clients ask, "Should I look for a new job?" my answer will be, "When you work for any organization, keep yourself marketable. Maintain your network. Identify reputable recruiters and build ties with them." It's rarely a good idea to share your career change plans with your colleagues or boss until you have a written offer in hand. And it's rarely a good idea to accept a counter-offer from your present company. (Over half the workers who accept a counter-offer are gone within six months, one way or another.) But if your company wants to send a "Go Away!" message, they may be happy to give you a good reference that reflects your real contribution. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., helps midlife professionals create small, medium and huge career changes, start a business or start over. Free Report: Ten secrets of managing a major life change. Mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact cathy@cathygoodwin.com or call 505-534-4294 | | | | RELATED ARTICLES Genes and Work Ethic If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they are exceptional, you might be successful on that alone. Unemployment Survival: Creating a Sense of Security In a time of economic downturn, international turmoil, company restructuring and corporate mergers run amok, thousands of people are either out of work or fearful of losing their jobs. 80,000 Americans Work in the Oil Change Industry There is a huge shortage, which effects franchises costs in labor, availability of labor and quality of workmanship. For instance 80,000 Americans are in Oil Lube Facilities alone and over 50% are franchised lube centers. Companies like; Jiffy Lube, Lube Pros, Grease Monkey, All-Tune and Lube, Oil Can Henry, etc. The Myths of Career Change Chances are you already have many ideas about what it takes to successfully transition into a new career, even if you have never done it before. Some of those ideas might be useful ? most probably are not. In this article I would like to expose The Myths of Career Change, which might actually be holding you back. Out Recruit The Competition We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate takes the job." Hiring a candidate shouldn't be a guessing game. After you interview a candidate thoroughly, and spend a great deal of time and money getting them through the process, you should not have to worry about "landing them." Dynamic Interviewing Practices The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. If you're reading this article, you are finished with the pre-hiring process and are looking for tips that will guide you through the interview. Successful Job Interview Tips Congratulations! You've finally landed that job interview you've been waiting for. Now the real work begins! Remember, resumes don't get jobs; they merely get you in the door. Here's how to make your resume come alive and make a good impression. Why Should We Hire You? This is one of those broad questions that can take you down the wrong road unless you have done some thinking about what to say ahead of time. This question deals with your ability to sell yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy? What is Mystery Shopping, and Can You Really Get Paid to Shop? Mystery shoppers visit businesses "disguised as normal customers," and do the things other customers do-ask questions, make a purchase, make a return-but with a twist. These undercover customers are there to evaluate the businesses and their employees. After a visit, the mystery shopper completes a report or questionnaire detailing what occurred. Career in the Toilet? Individuals not within their target career field may feel insecure, doubtful, or maybe even ashamed of their current job title. Career changers make up a large portion of the job-searching population. Although people (in general) are "creatures of habit," they thrive for change ? especially when unhappy in their current position or industry. Continuing with educational goals or transferring to another industry can alleviate these feelings, yet shouldn't be the only remedy administered. How to Feel Satisfied in Your Career Many people turn a beloved hobby into a vocation. They have a gift, a talent screaming for expression. It means doing something that they love. At last, they feel empowered. The Importance of Background Verification Today's society has created an environment that requires business owners to be armed with numerous tools. Many employers currently spend little time verifying the accuracy of employment applications and the cost of not doing normal due diligence can be staggering. It is Still Possible to be Upwardly Mobile in America! Yes, it's still possible to be upwardly mobile in America: it's called a career in sales. Ten Things To Do If You Really, Really Hate Your Job 1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself sharing the latest horror story, stop in mid-sentence and say, "What I want to have is..." Five Biggest Resume Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself A career consultant can diagnose and overhaul a troubledresume. But you can check off the basics yourself. Career Planning for Gifted Adults "James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's hyperactive." Your Goals Must Be Within Your Reach  Leaders Meet Challenge Heads-UP With Confidence -- Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge. Business owners are faced with making lots of decisions - some quickly made - others take more time with greater consequences. An RX For Your Résumé Whether you are an accountant, virtual assistant, or a corporate executive, your job skills are constantly refined. A new sales presentation you've organized or the new spreadsheet package you've mastered should be included on your résumé. You may have new skills that could turn your dead-end job into a new career in another field. If you update your résumé continually, it makes it easier to send it out at a moments notice. Your résumé should be well written, typeset and laser printed. It should also be suited for your targeted employer and field, focusing on your key experience. It should be free of all grammatical errors and appealing to the eye. Independent RN Contractors Are Taking The Nursing Profession Nurses wake up and take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity. Are you tired of having no input in your career, little money in the bank, lack of respect for your profession and little compensation for the long hours and years of dedication? Independent RN Contractor is a great way to renew your interest and rejuvenate your nursing career. As An Independent Nurse Contractor you will increase your choices as to when, where and how often you work, substantially increase your income and most of all gain professional autonomy.
|