How To Avoid A Negative Job Review
Sunday, April 10, 2011, 2:00 AM | 1 Comment
These are, no doubt, hard times – the hardest since the Great Depression. Unemployment is increasingly getting higher month by month as well as underemployment.
For a couple of years now, news of the worst unemployment numbers in 16 years is enough to create plenty of job jitters for most workers.
However, with performance review season in full swing in some companies, many employees are bound to hear negative comments. In a tough economy, a bad review can seem insurmountable.
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Before review time
Your job performance is reviewed on an yearly basis. If you have worked harder, better and smarter, then your review would be a breeze. You would be looking forward to it and you should.
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The best thing to do is to make yourself genuinely valuable to the company in general and your department in particular. Always look for things to do to make yourself better professionally.
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Know the agenda when you attend a meeting. Prepare to ask questions. Take part in the discussion. If the topic of the meeting does not concern you, you should still have some intelligent conversation about it.
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Don’t keep quiet in the meeting. Don’t just sit there. Let other participants know that you are interested in the topic. Either you know something about it, or you want to learn about it.
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All year long, be helpful to others. If you have finished a project successfully, if possible, call up a meeting of not only yours but other departments as well and let them know about it.
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On a weekly basis, let your managers know what your progress on a project is. If you get into a problem, always ask for help and days and weeks before you would actually need it.
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Let your colleagues and managers know that you are a part of the team. “Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.”
Even still if you get a negative review, here is what you can do.
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Be open to feedback
The review is a communication tool for you and your manager to begin the conversation about your performance. You should be ready and willing to accept feedback.
Remember, what you hear is usually meant to help you do your job better.
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Be receptive to your manager’s comments
Giving negative feedback can be stressful for a manager. Listen to and acknowledge what your manager is saying, regardless of whether you agree with the comments.
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Make an action plan
Take time to reflect and review your manager’s comments. You might want to discuss difficult issues with a mentor or friend. Then create an action plan that you can cover and add to in the follow-up meeting.
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Have meetings on a regular basis
Stay on top of the turnaround plan. Don’t be afraid to let your boss know what you are accomplishing. Check in at least every two to three weeks, or sooner if you have achieved a success at work.
In a Nutshell
Getting good reviews, for some, is like going to the dentist. If you have flossed – once a day – and brushed – twice a day – regularly, then going to the dentist should be a breeze and not something to dread upon.
If you have followed the above, all year long, then getting a good performance review should be a breeze and that you can be proud of.
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One Response to “How To Avoid A Negative Job Review”
By Jason on Apr 11, 2011, 12:37 am | Reply
Work hard and don’t take crap from anyone!