Dear Jackie Lee
Our yearly performance reviews are coming up and it has never bothered me before but now I heard you can be let go or terminated if you get a poor performance review. Please give me some strategies for getting through my review.
Gwen
Dear Gwen,
Performance reviews are stressful in the best of times and especially now with government reductions…But, really there is no need to be stressed out.
First off, you need to be aware of your strengths. What are you really great at? Find ways to showcase these strengths in the workplace. What training can you take? Make sure you toot your own horn in this meeting, but remember to be subtle – NO boasting.
It is also great to know your weaknesses. Make sure to focus on how you compensate for a particular weakness. For example, I hate paperwork. As a counsellor however, it’s a huge part of my job. So, I set aside one half hour at the beginning and end of the day to complete all paperwork and filing.
When it comes time for your review and you do find a less than impressive score in a certain area, ask your manager what you could do to improve on your next evaluation. Ask for clarity and specifics about expected performance and timelines for achieving these objectives. This way you put it back on them and it is a chance for you to work skills that can only reward you in another position.
When approached with an open mind, constructive criticism through discussions such as during a performance review can be the key to personal and professional growth.
Good Luck and remember don’t sweat the small stuff.