Can You Redeem Yourself After a Bad Review at Work?

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

There’s one certainty in life beyond death and taxes for employees — it’s the dreaded performance review. Receiving a glowing appraisal can do wonders for your morale and can be a great motivator. Receiving a poor review, on the other hand, can leave you dejected and frustrated.

Whether you’re a star performer or are struggling to meet expectations, performance reviews can be great learning tools. Here are some tips to help you when you receive a less-than-stellar review:

Take the criticism maturely and professionally.
Let’s face it — it is not easy to be criticized in any situation. But rather than being offended, learn from it. Keep your emotions in check and resist the urge to be defensive.

Ask for specifics.
The best way to improve your performance is if you know what you are doing wrong. Ask your manager to spell out exactly where you are lacking so you can make improvements. If he or she simply says that you “don’t seem to be motivated” in the office, respectfully ask for examples of where and when you have fallen short. This will help you see things from your manager’s perspective.

Understand expectations.
Sometimes, being a star at work is all about expectations. You need to understand your manager’s idea of “outstanding” or “meets expectations” in order to meet them. Ask your manager to give you examples of accomplishments or behaviors that are required to earn a better evaluation.

Set clear and attainable goals.
The best way to show that you are improving is to set goals and meet those goals. With your supervisor’s help develop a list of short- and long-term goals that go along with the areas in your review. This will demonstrate that you are committed to improvement and will give you a road map to follow.

Don’t go it alone.
If you find that you need assistance, ask for it. Maybe you just haven’t gotten the hang of the new accounting system or are having troubles managing a certain client. If you don’t step up and ask for help, your work — and your career — will continue to suffer.

Meet regularly.
If the only time you sit down with your boss is at your annual review, it may be difficult for you to improve much in the workplace. You need to build a relationship with your manager that provides you with ongoing support and feedback. If necessary, set up meetings every few weeks to talk about your goals and discuss your progress.

Keep a record.
The workplace has a short memory and a performance review is normally conducted just once a year. That’s why it is important for you to keep a file of your accomplishments throughout the year. Share these with your supervisor as he prepares your performance appraisal to remind him of your achievements.