Nobody likes performance reviews.
Mangers don’t like giving them and employees downright hate them. But feedback is important, even when it’s not exactly glowing.
Success without setbacks is impossible. When you first stepped out into the working world, you may have been warned about employee reviews and the pitfalls they present.
The time has come to overcome needing to find a new job after bombing a review.
Read on to learn how you can master those performance reviews and everything that comes before and after.
#1. Take Stock of Your Performance Before the Review
Bad reviews don’t appear out of thin air.
Life has a sense of humor and likes to kick us down when we are already struggling, but chances are if you take stock of the time leading up to the review and the relationship with your manager, you will see the warning signs.
Hindsight is 20/20, but with a little bit of work, you can make sure the mistakes of the past do not influence the future of your career.
Some questions to ask yourself:
How was your actual performance objectively?
Was your communication with your team as clear as it needed to be?
Did your relationship with your manager affect your project outcomes?
#2. Damage Control
Is the negative feedback having a broader effect on your confidence?
Don't despair. No, seriously, this is not the time to stick your head in the cubicle sand and cry.
You can do some damage control on the situation and come out stronger.
Top Tip: Take it to form someone who has not only given reviews, but received my fair share (not all of them positive!)
If you go in with good faith intent and a willingness to improve, you can come out on top. What do you have to lose?
#3. Accept the current situation & ask for help
I know you like to believe that you did everything right and that your manager is wrong and has it out for you, but (even if that IS the case) you need to begin by accepting the situation for what it is and moving forward.
Instead, if you accept the situation and ask for the help you need, you can right the ship and use the review to your advantage.
For example:
Ask your manager for what specific improvements they want to see and ask them what support you can expect to lean on to achieve those improvements.
You can then reach out to your HR department and request Learning & Development trainings to help get you to where your manager wants you to be.
Even if you believe the review and feedback were unwarranted or even unfair, showing that you are engaged in the process can do wonders for you.
#4. Future Planning
Now that you know how to avoid poor performance reviews from reoccurring, it’s time to leave it behind you and create the career you want like the goal getter you are!
Remember: Negative performance reviews are common and you are not inferior just because it has happened to you. All you can control is how you deal with your future reviews.
This should involve you upping your communication with your manager to make sure you are consistently on the same page so that you can address any issues before they become major infractions.
Yes your manager should be on top of this, unfortunately many managers are not trained how to do this effectively.
#5. Act, Don't React
Did your therapist tell you that one, too? Don't roll your eyes at me! You know we're both right.
Action is the mother of outcome]. If you haven't been taught about the Pareto principle, let me tell you a little more about it:
The principle states that 20% of your effort creates 80% of your outcome. Meaning that just 20% of your actions are going to create the outcome you (and your manager) want.
Our friends over at Asana have a great post on the Pareto Principle.
Reaction puts you back in the headspace of dwelling on things you can no longer control (i.e. the past). You can’t control how you and your performance was viewed in the past, you can only move forward.
Oh, hi, want a freebie to help you with this step? You've got this! My downloadable workbook will help you outline your goals moving forward.
How can coaching help you overcome a bad performance review?
Are you still flailing a little or want just a bit more help to get you back on your feet after “the incident”?
No problem! You did see the freebie workbook link above, right? I worked to make sure that workbook has the resources you need and want to make sure you get the most out of your career goals.
In my coaching practice, I pride myself on being able to help you objectively see how you got to where you are and how to move forward in a way that feels good to you.
That means you don't have to try to “fix” your career on your own ( e.g., take care of all of your damage control). That's what I’m here for.
Click here to learn more about how career coaching can help and support you. I can't wait to work with you.
And did you see my post WHY YOU HAVE TO WORK ON YOUR CAREER NOT JUST IN IT? It’s all about being intentional with your career and making those goals happen.
I hope this post has been helpful!
Any questions? Email me or shoot me a DM on Instagram and check out our career community over there.
Yours in ‘you got this!’ goodness-
EBS
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EB Sanders | Career Coach for Creative Types
ebs@ebsanders.com
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