As a Dade County employment agency, Future Force knows that getting a bad review is akin to a punch in the gut. Even if you knew it was coming, the negative feedback is always hard to hear.
But rather than letting it kill your motivation, look at the situation as an opportunity to learn and grow stronger. One bad review isn’t the end of the world – but the last thing you want is another.
To help ensure you take the feedback to heart and put it to the best possible use, here are some tips to help you recover from a bad performance review:
Stop and listen.
Rather then letting your emotions – fear, anxiety, defensiveness – get the best of you, stop and listen to what your manager is communicating to you. If they tell you that you did a poor job on something, then listen to what they have to say. Even if it’s blunt, it will provide valuable insight into how your manager perceives your performance. And you must understand their point of view in order to improve.
Ask questions.
If your boss doesn’t get into specifics, then push them to do so. Ask them questions about what they didn’t like about your work and what they were expecting instead. For instance, ask for a specific example that illustrates the poor performance they’re talking about. It’s important to ensure you’re both on the same page and fully understand the behavior that needs to be changed.
Dispute facts you don’t think are valid.
All that said, if there’s something your boss is criticizing you for – and you think it’s off base – then don’t hesitate to dispute it, especially if you have facts to back you up. Acknowledge the valid points of your boss’s feedback, but then let them know there are a few areas in which you have a different perspective.
Create a game plan for the future.
If your boss doesn’t outline next steps, then work with him or her to create a game plan that will help you both move ahead in a productive way. Identify specific areas that need improvement, performance goals and milestones, and a timeline for meeting them.
Move on.
If you think your poor review is a result of the position not being the right fit for you, then it’s time to move on. Even if you have the skills to do the job, if you’re disengaged and unhappy, you’re not going to be successful there. You may have had a gut feeling in the past that this job isn’t for you – and the poor review simply confirms that fact.
If that’s the case, and you need help finding your next job, call Future Force. As one of Dade County’s top employment agencies, we’ve helped thousands of job seekers find rewarding career opportunities with great companies throughout the area…and we can help you too!