Top Five Tips on Surviving your Performance Review

Top Five Tips on Surviving your Performance Review

Firstly, let me say that in terms of my blog posts this is quite a long one. However, it’s such an important topic in my view it deserves the length, so please bear with me.

It is normally around this time of the year when you have a performance review at work. I believe performance reviews are a positive in the workplace. It is a chance to sit down with your employee/employer and review performances of the past year.  Think of what went well and what might need to be improved or worked upon.

While these experiences are meant to be a positive experience for both employee and employer the stories I often hear it doesn’t always come across this way. So I thought I would use this blog post as a timely reminder on how best to prepare for your performance review and what to do when it gets tough. Here are my top five tips for surviving your performance review:

Tip One – Prepare

In this meeting the most important person at it is you. This is your chance to review your year, look in-depth at your performance, training and relationship dynamics so you absolutely owe it to yourself to make sure that you are properly prepared. If you have papers to prepare then treat the preparation time like you would for anything else. Give yourself some uninterrupted time to complete paperwork and to think about your own performance, areas that went really well and areas where you felt didn’t go so great.  Have a piece of paper that you can write down all your achievements. Trust me trying to remember in the heat of a meeting you’ll forget some important points and regret it later that you didn’t manage to tell your manager.

Tip Two – Sell yourself

In some ways this is one of your best chances to ‘sell yourself’ to your manager. The common mistake I see all the time is that employee’s get annoyed that their manager wasn’t aware of all the positive things that they had achieved during the year. If you think logically no matter if your boss has 1 person reporting to them or 40 they won’t remember all that you do. That and here is the important point –doesn’t mean they don’t want to know what you’ve done. And here is the second point – I think (this is only my personal opinion) it’s the employee’s responsibility to highlight their achievements.

Tip Three – Know your weak areas

It is often far easier to hear and more importantly easier to take onboard a discussion that is highlighting areas where you might need to work more on when you have had time to think yourself of areas that you need to work on. Now I truly appreciate that for this to be done effectively you do actually need to try and be objective. Equally I would challenge if they themselves didn’t know what areas they need to work on.  Often the issue is being told by someone else.

Tip Four – Where and what type of development is for you?

In this day and age it’s the exception to the rule of people not wishing to progress. Again it is my firm belief that it is part responsibility of the employee to have an awareness of the type of development they wish to take on during the coming year at work. This does require a caveat that their maybe lots of training or areas you wish to work on but it might not be that your employer can at this current time afford such courses so be prepared to meet half way or figure out alternatives or graduated stages of progress.

Tip Five – A healthy challenge does no harm

Now on this tip I risk running dangerous ground I am aware and this particular part in itself deserves a positing on its own. But for now I will work on the condensed version. I won’t normally recommend in these circumstances that you challenge your employer if you simply don’t like what you are hearing. I will however recommend that evidence is the king when it comes to a healthy challenge.

If your employer has said something about your work style and you have physical evidence that can demonstrate the complete opposite then use it.  This is where coming back to my first time pays actual dividends –prepare, prepare and then prepare some more. I should also state that the purpose of preparing isn’t for you to create a case ‘against your employer’. It is purely for you to demonstrate all of your achievements.

Now the other two caveats I must put with this tip is 1) sometimes whether you like it or not your employer may not change their view and 2) evidence might also be collated by your employer to prove their claims.

As I said at the start this is a massive topic and I thought I would be cheeky and give you some pointers, which are coming to you with the benefit of my experience and advice given out to clients over the years. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments so please get in touch.

Are you too friendly with your work colleagues?

Colleagues are often the reason that we stay in our jobs. Equally they can be the main reason we want to leave our jobs. It can be a bit of a love/hate relationship. When it’s good it’s really good however, when it goes wrong it can affect all parts of your working life and potentially spill over to your own personal life.

So when does your colleagues become too close for comfort? Well my normal rule of thumb is that it’s nice to be nice, however, think carefully about what you would wish your colleagues to know about you. If you struggle with this then think of worst case scenario. Would you mind what you have told them being shared with other colleagues or worse still used against you? If the mere thought makes you feel uncomfortable then you have your answer and your barometer for what you say to colleagues and home much you say.

I would love to hear from you if you’ve fallen foul of telling too much to a colleague?

Just admit it, you’re wrong!

They say that pride comes before a fall. Not admitting that your wrong can be the first of your ‘falls’ if you are not careful. You are always the first to tell someone that they are wrong. And we can race at break neck speed to let people know that we are right. However, when it comes to admitting that we are wrong it would seem sometimes that we would rather eat our own eye balls.

How do I know this, well I will put both hands up and admit I am one of these people. I hate to admit when I am wrong (clearly it doesn’t happen often – joking). Although only recently I tried to practice what I preach by entering into a meeting where the sole reason was that I was to admit I got it wrong. Sure, my palms were sweaty, I frankly wished I could be anywhere other than their but the moment the words came out “I was wrong, sorry” the reaction I got was completely unexpected. What transpired was heartfelt acceptance of my apology followed quickly by an apology that they believe I deserved. The air cleared, apologies accepted we move on. Slightly started by the turn of events but feeling better for ‘fessing up’ a turning point has come and gone.

So the moral or recommendation if you will is to be honest, when your wrong, admit it. It takes a bigger person to own that than you might imagine. Most times you will find that people are far more forgiving than you think they might be if you come straight quickly.

So will I be admitting I am wrong on an ongoing basis? Of course not, purely because I am never wrong don’t you know:-)

Sometimes the only thing for it….

Sometimes the only thing for it is to ‘eat your frogs’. We all have things that we put off each day, week and or month. Whether it’s that conversation you wished you could have, the chore that has been screaming your name to be done or the bill that needs to be paid. We all put things off and I am no different.

However, I am going to make a start at changing it and ‘eating my frogs’. I managed to do it today and surprise, surprise it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

So here is my pledge, please feel free to join me if you put things off:

“I  (insert your name) hereby pledge that no matter how uncomfortable it will be I will start to eat my frogs and not leave it to build up. I will call myself on this if I start to waiver from this pledge and hereby give ( insert name) permission to call me on this too.”

Happy Frog Eating Folks.x

The Joy is in People Watching

These days I don’t get to do this nearly as much as I would like. However, when I do find time to ‘people watch’ you can find me camped out with a Thai tea latte in hand while sitting in a nice coffee house. Observing people and letting my mind run free to pick up on great ideas.

Now experience has shown me that I can’t do this adequately in just any old coffee house. I need to plan when I do this especially if it’s to do writing. If it’s just regular old people watching then most places are fine. However, to actually get my creative juices following. I absolutely need to following things:
1. I need to make sure it’s not peak time so not first thing in the morning. You need to feel like you aren’t in a rush to do this properly.

2. The venue has to have a good looking out point so that you can watch people – obvious but thought I would just point this out.

3. It needs to be comfy again if you plan to do some serious creative thinking then you’re going to need to be in surroundings that allows you to stay put for a while.

4. The drinks need to be good. I have found quite a few places where the coffee served would give your usual coffee houses a good run for their money.

5. Pen and paper are your best friends. Or a laptop if you want but something to record the ideas you come up with.

I find it’s often the most random thing that you see that starts the flow off. It can be something you over here or the way someone acts, the body language or indeed something that they are using. Whatever it is just go with it.

As almost to give some proof to the pudding, I write this particular blog while sitting on a wet day down in Manchester in a lovely cafe that has ceiling to floor glass windows, which is truly perfect for people watching and gaining creative thoughts. So I wonder where will you be when you read this post?

Let the creative juices flow

These days I don’t get to do this nearly as much as I would like. However, when I do find time to ‘people watch’ you can find me camped out with a Thai tea latte in hand while sitting in a nice coffee house. Observing people and letting my mind run free to pick up on great ideas.

Now experience has shown me that I can’t do this adequately in just any old coffee house. I need to plan when I do this especially if it’s to do writing. If it’s just regular old people watching then most places are fine. However, to actually get my creative juices following. I absolutely need to following things:

1.I need to make sure it’s not peak time so not first thing in the morning. You need to feel like you aren’t in a rush to do this properly.

2.The venue has to have a good looking out point so that you can watch people – obvious but thought I would just point this out.

3.It needs to be comfy again if you plan to do some serious creative thinking then you’re going to need to be in surroundings that allows you to stay put for a while.

4.The drinks need to be good. I have found quite a few places where the coffee served would give your usual coffee houses a good run for their money.

5.Pen and paper are your best friends. Or a laptop if you want but something to record the ideas you come up with.

I find it’s often the most random thing that you see that starts the flow off. It can be something you over here or the way someone acts, the body language or indeed something that they are using. Whatever it is just go with it.

As almost to give some proof to the pudding, I write this particular blog while sitting on a wet day down in Manchester in a lovely cafe that has floor to ceiling glass windows, which is truly perfect for people watching and gaining creative thoughts.

So I wonder where will you be when you read this post?

It’s Ok to say No!

Today I witnessed a shopping frenzy. Women everywhere, with bags overflowing and of potential purchases. It wouldn’t even matter if it doesn’t fit, and it becomes more important if another women starts to look interested in what you’re looking at – you therefore must buy it, it would seem.

It was my first time at such an event and after a quick look around and only one purchase I stood and waiting for those I had attended with to finish their shopping. It was when I was waiting that I observed the most bizarre behaviour. You see this was never going to be a hugely successful outing for me as I am a very visual person and often feel I am the only woman in the world who does not find their heart races at the mere mention of ‘sales’. It’s too disorganised for me and I have little patience to try in my mind and see whether a top will mentally go with the rest of my wardrobe. However, I am a women and shopping in its many forms does come naturally so I thought I would give it a go.

What I observed is that women would enter in packs and then split up and go searching. I witnessed those who kept together gradually loose there cool with those who forced them to slow down, look at things that plainly they weren’t interested in or indeed consistently keep them talking.

I watched as women with children in prams had loaded the pram and child with mounds of clothes that I was sure wasn’t there one and only chance to buy but more they were carried away with the fact it was a ‘factory outlet sale’. My thoughts go out to all those little children that would only see women’s legs and piled up clothes bashing into them.

At the tills the theme was clearly set to ensure that they got as much money out of their customers hence the ‘heard them through mentality’. Overall an experience I wouldn’t want to repeat but the one thing I would like to reiterate is ladies it’s always ok to say no!

The right to be in the room

I have been doing a lot of work lately about helping clients so own the ‘right to be in the room’ when dealing with their key stakeholders. Does that sound like I have just given you a bunch of jargon there? Sorry, let me break this down. When looking to pitch an idea or entering a room for an important meeting the temptation to question our right to be there can make us sometimes forget exactly WHY WE ARE THERE.

Over time what I have found and help to impart with clients is that the key to having the ‘right to be in the room’ is down to rapport. If you can establish good working relations then you will get the invite to the important kick off meetings that happen. Understandably to develop trust can take time so I thought it might be helpful to on pass my top tips for gaining quick rapport with your clients:

1. Be yourself
There is no point trying to be something you’re not. Trust me, it will be so obvious to them, and you will only let yourself down by not being yourself. You won’t feel at ease, and that is the key to good rapport.

2. Straight talking
This is a follow on from the above point, only deal in straight talking. Be honest, if you don’t know the answer to the question they have asked you, say you don’t but you know how to find out the answer, or you can find out and come back to them. If you bluff you lose credibility straight away.

3. Under promise and over deliver
There is a knack to doing this well. When you promise something make the time scales work for you, give yourself more time if possible than you need and then this allows you to deliver more and within the agreed time scales.

4. Understand their problems
One of the quickest ways to gain good rapport is to make sure that you’ve done your homework. Now the problems facing your clients, and if they don’t have any (which is unlikely) have an understanding of the potential pit falls that you can help them with. Your goal here is to become a solid sounding board to them, someone they can trust and be honest with.

5. Their win is your win
To establish real rapport your intentions need to be of a genuine nature. So when they go through difficult times your there with them and when the good times come around your also there. These actions alone send a strong message not only to your client but to the people they work with that you are dependable.

Doing these things will give you credibility and earn you the right to be in any room that you choose to be in.

Life’s what you make of it

Well, first of all, Happy New Year, I hope 2011 is everything you wish it to be. This year the Tres Bon Coaching Blog will aim to give you food for thought, tips and hints on all aspects to do with your Career and Life. So to kick off. I wanted to write about Life, and it being what you make of it.

I am currently working on my monthly newsletter to sign up for it email info@tresboncoaching.com to be added to our membership list. With the start of the New Year being foremost in my mind at this point it has occurred to me that we will only ever get out of 2011 exactly what we put into it.
So to kick start your New Year, here are my top five tips to getting the most for this year:

1. State your intention
You need to make sure that it’s clear to you (and you alone, see my newsletter for more on this) know what it is that you want to achieve. Be sure to write it down and keep it somewhere where you can refer to it often.

2. Step Out
There seems little point in continuing something if it is not getting you anywhere. So STOP it and try something different. This will absolutely take you out of your comfort zone.
3. Wish List

If you had no restraints what would you want to do? Asking yourself this will bring you closer to your heart’s desire. Don’t worry about what your writing, it’s only you that will see it, unless you choose otherwise.

4. Commit to it
We can all state that we want to do fabulous things, but, unless you commit to doing something there is no point in trying. Your heart needs to be in it, if it’s not then its face to think that it might not be the right thing for you to do.

5. Research
Often the part that worries us the most is the fact that we worry about the unknown. A great way to get round this is to be sure to research the topic/area. Information is knowledge after all.
After you have done all of this the only thing left is to go ahead and do it. What is the very worst that can happen? It’s not right for you so you stop. Come on be brave and take that next step.

Don’t Look Back

The hustle bustle of Christmas is now been and gone and the time in between Christmas and New Year is a strange time where you are trying to finish things off and look to the year that is ahead of you.

Are you getting whiplash from going between the past and the future?

I believe it’s really important to make sure that you close off the year. That whether or not it’s been a good year for you or not that you give it the time to say your goodbye’s to it. Making sure that along the way you have understood the lesson’s you was meant to learn, and you made the friendships you sought and the connections who were calling out to you.

Furthermore, that you take the time to lose ties, which no longer serve you. Doing all of this allows you to come into 2011 with a new and fresh outlook.

The brilliant thing about a New Year is that no matter how bad the last year has been for you. It’s like you get a clean sheet of paper to write on. The most important thing now is to ensure that 2011 is everything you want it to be. So be sure that when you make resolutions that you take time to really think things through. It’s like that saying ‘be careful what you wish for, you might just get it’ so if be really careful and clear on what you want.

How you celebrate the New Year coming in is up to you whether it’s a big party, spent with family and friends or indeed on your own, I wish you a most prosperous 2011. I will see you on the other side.