The annual review is
the professional equivalent of the report card. And if you remember back to
your school days, you’ll probably recall anticipating its arrival with a mix of
excitement and anxiety. Had you performed as well as you thought you did? Would
tardiness or being too talkative affect your grades?
the professional equivalent of the report card. And if you remember back to
your school days, you’ll probably recall anticipating its arrival with a mix of
excitement and anxiety. Had you performed as well as you thought you did? Would
tardiness or being too talkative affect your grades?
Workplace evaluations
can evoke similar feelings. What if your worst fears become a reality in the way
of a poor performance review? Read on for what one career coach believes you
should do.
1.
Remain calm.
Remain calm.
Hallie Crawford, a
certified career coach, says, “First and foremost, breathe and relax.” You may
feel blindsided, but stay calm and take in what your supervisor is telling you
without getting defensive. Focus on what you’re being told — you can even take
notes. But save your rebuttals for later.
certified career coach, says, “First and foremost, breathe and relax.” You may
feel blindsided, but stay calm and take in what your supervisor is telling you
without getting defensive. Focus on what you’re being told — you can even take
notes. But save your rebuttals for later.
However, if your
supervisor is getting angry or being unprofessional, you can try to steer the
review to facts and practical information. Crawford, the founder of
HallieCrawford.com, advises workers, “Tell your boss, ‘I appreciate your
candor, but I’d like to get constructive feedback that will help me improve.’”
She adds, “You want her to know that you understand there’s a problem, but
assure her that your focus is solution-oriented.”
supervisor is getting angry or being unprofessional, you can try to steer the
review to facts and practical information. Crawford, the founder of
HallieCrawford.com, advises workers, “Tell your boss, ‘I appreciate your
candor, but I’d like to get constructive feedback that will help me improve.’”
She adds, “You want her to know that you understand there’s a problem, but
assure her that your focus is solution-oriented.”
2.
Act, don’t react.
Act, don’t react.
If you’re feeling
defenseless and caught off guard — or (and especially) if you’re feeling angry
— try to buy some time to react to your review and answer criticisms. Crawford,
whose practice is based out of Atlanta, believes professionals should request
the opportunity to mull things over. “Explain to your manager that you’d like
to take a day or two to develop a plan of action to address these issues,” says
Crawford. “The fact that you’re willing to come up with solutions will get your
boss on your side, as will soliciting ideas from her as to what you should do
in the immediate.”
defenseless and caught off guard — or (and especially) if you’re feeling angry
— try to buy some time to react to your review and answer criticisms. Crawford,
whose practice is based out of Atlanta, believes professionals should request
the opportunity to mull things over. “Explain to your manager that you’d like
to take a day or two to develop a plan of action to address these issues,” says
Crawford. “The fact that you’re willing to come up with solutions will get your
boss on your side, as will soliciting ideas from her as to what you should do
in the immediate.”
3.
Remember that perspective is subjective.
Remember that perspective is subjective.
You don’t have to
accept every criticism of your performance as fact. In fact, you can dispute
some parts — if you do it with kid gloves. Crawford, a specialist in career
transition and helping workers find their ideal jobs, says, “You’ve got to keep
things civil and polite, but you don’t need to roll over. Acknowledge the valid
points of your review, but you can dissent by saying, ‘There are just a few
things that I have a different perspective on; this is what actually
happened.’” Doing so will allow you to direct the conversation back to your
point of view rather than attacking the quality of your evaluation.
accept every criticism of your performance as fact. In fact, you can dispute
some parts — if you do it with kid gloves. Crawford, a specialist in career
transition and helping workers find their ideal jobs, says, “You’ve got to keep
things civil and polite, but you don’t need to roll over. Acknowledge the valid
points of your review, but you can dissent by saying, ‘There are just a few
things that I have a different perspective on; this is what actually
happened.’” Doing so will allow you to direct the conversation back to your
point of view rather than attacking the quality of your evaluation.
4.
Get real.
Get real.
So, you’ve gotten a
poor review and you may or may not agree with it. You now need to decide if you
want to stay at this job or move on. If you love your job, it’s worth working
on things, even if you disagree with your evaluation, believes Crawford. “But,”
she adds, “most people have a gut sense that a job isn’t a fit yet they’ve
ignored that instinct.” If that’s the case, she believes in moving on to
another opportunity.
poor review and you may or may not agree with it. You now need to decide if you
want to stay at this job or move on. If you love your job, it’s worth working
on things, even if you disagree with your evaluation, believes Crawford. “But,”
she adds, “most people have a gut sense that a job isn’t a fit yet they’ve
ignored that instinct.” If that’s the case, she believes in moving on to
another opportunity.
She reminds workers,
though, “Don’t decide whether to stay or go from a place of fear. You need to
come from a place of power and confidence in yourself. If you’re afraid, you
won’t be able to make the best decision for your career.”
though, “Don’t decide whether to stay or go from a place of fear. You need to
come from a place of power and confidence in yourself. If you’re afraid, you
won’t be able to make the best decision for your career.”
5.
Learn from your mistakes.
Learn from your mistakes.
When you land at your
next job, you may feel extreme anxiety about your first evaluation. You can
prevent this — and getting another negative review — by opening the lines of
communication with your manager from day one.
next job, you may feel extreme anxiety about your first evaluation. You can
prevent this — and getting another negative review — by opening the lines of
communication with your manager from day one.
Crawford, whose book
“Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles” comes out in June 2008, says,
“You don’t ever want an evaluation to be a big surprise! But you can ensure
against that by asking for feedback often and checking in with your boss and
coworkers.” Find out how often you’ll get an official evaluation but also
solicit informal reviews after big projects. She adds, “People who communicate
openly from day one on a job set the stage to receive feedback naturally. So be
that person in the first place.”
“Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles” comes out in June 2008, says,
“You don’t ever want an evaluation to be a big surprise! But you can ensure
against that by asking for feedback often and checking in with your boss and
coworkers.” Find out how often you’ll get an official evaluation but also
solicit informal reviews after big projects. She adds, “People who communicate
openly from day one on a job set the stage to receive feedback naturally. So be
that person in the first place.”