How’s work going?
What’s your gut reaction to that question?
If it’s not great, then your initial instinct might be to stop reading right here. Maybe that’s true if it’s good as well. In either case, I’m going to encourage you to stick with me here for just a moment.
For many of us, this is the time of year when we receive performance reviews and/or bonuses. Ideally, we hear what we are doing right, and get guidance on areas of improvement. But in my experience, these conversations are at best awkward, and at worst, useless.
What to do? Use this time, once a year, to take your performance review into your own hands and don’t stop there. Look at your manager, your role, and your company too. Here are some prompts to get you started:
How Am I Doing?
- When I wake up on most work days, I feel…(ready to dive in, excited, anxious, dread, etc.)
- In general, my co-workers are… (fun, friendly, annoying, incompetent, etc.)
- On most days, I would rate my performance as…(great, fine, adequate, poor, etc.)
- I would describe my relationship with my immediate supervisor as…(good, okay, not so great, etc.)
- The one thing that I would change about my work is…
- The areas of my work that are most challenging for me are…
- The skills I have yet to develop in this role are…
- The work I am doing is helping me grow in these ways…
- I have the chance to interact with people who…
- Thinking ahead to the coming year, I’m excited to…
- The specific things I value about my employer are…
- I’m proud to work for this company because…
- The opportunities I see ahead for myself in this organization are…
- It means a lot to me that my employer…
If you spend some time with these questions, you will have a very good idea of whether you are in the right place, or whether it may be time to pivot. If you don’t like what you learn – don’t panic! It’s something to celebrate, because you CAN find something that’s a better fit – and that’s exciting!
Cheers to your career!
I am a career REBEL!
I define my work.
My career is in my hands.
I stand up for who I am and how I contribute to the greater good.
I will invest my portfolio of knowledge, skills, and abilities
where they will earn the most significant return.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION