Unlocking the Mystery Behind Our Hate for Performance Reviews

Last updated: February 6, 2024

Almost all of us are familiar with the concept of career growth and the importance of managing our career. But how often is that knowledge applied regularly? Often, we don’t think about our career trajectory and our performance until we’re put into a spot where we have to, like during a performance review or when the idea of switching jobs starts to feel real.

Some of us are fortunate to have a mentor, a career coach, or a manager who’s genuinely invested in our progress. They guide us by setting ambitious goals, providing constructive feedback, and placing us on projects that not only challenge us but also align with our career aspirations, helping us excel.

But, let’s be real, not many of us are this lucky. On our own, we tend to gravitate towards what we know and enjoy, focusing on our immediate tasks and responsibilities, often at the expense of long-term career planning.

Being a high performer means more than just ticking off tasks from our to-do list. It’s about crafting a strategy for our career. It involves understanding our strengths, identifying areas for improvement, and aligning our personal goals with the broader objectives of our team and our company. There’s often a disconnect between how we perceive our performance and how our managers view it, primarily when expectations aren’t clearly communicated. It’s easy to think we’re nailing it, but our boss might be looking at a different scoreboard. Bridging this gap is essential not just for being recognized appropriately but for ensuring that the contributions we make are valued and understood within the context of the company’s vision.

Getting on the same page both with ourself and our higher ups can be a game changer for our career. It can help us decide if it’s time to push harder in our current role, or seek new challenges within the organization, or perhaps take our talents elsewhere in search of new opportunities that better match our career aspirations. Without regularly reflecting on our goals and our performance, we’re essentially floating without direction, which might be comfortable in the short term but can lead to stagnation. For those aiming for a promotion, or eyeing a heftier paycheck, continuous and proactive career management is non-negotiable.

Let’s face it, most of us put off thinking about our careers until we absolutely have to. You know that all-too-familiar groan that sweeps through the office when performance review time comes around? Or the endless hours we spend trying to polish our resumes? Yep, that’s us avoiding the nitty-gritty of career planning until the last minute.

You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt blindsided by a performance review feedback that seemed out of the left field. This disconnect doesn’t just come out of nowhere; it’s a direct result of bypassing those essential self-check-ins and reflections.

The reason those reviews can sting so much is that, deep down, many of us aren’t keeping a regular tab on our own development. We let days turn into months, only to find ourselves surprised and defensive when our perception doesn’t line up with our manager’s feedback. This discrepancy not only sours our view of the review process but can lead us to question their value in our career progression.

Regular self-reflection is not just useful; it’s crucial. It aligns our self-perception with reality, prepares us for constructive feedback, and, most importantly, it empowers us to own our career path.

So, what’s the game plan? Start small, but start now. Begin with setting aside time each week to review your achievements, challenges, and learning points. Align these reflections with your long-term career goals and, where possible, share them with your manager. This is not just checking off boxes; you’re creating a roadmap for where you want to go and ensuring your manager is on that journey with you.

Remember, the goal here isn’t just to avoid surprises at your next performance review. It’s about creating a culture of continuous growth for yourself, where formal reviews become a space for genuine discussion about your progress and future aspirations, not a dreaded judgment day.

By making regular self-assessment a part of your routine, you’re actively defining your career path. You’re making informed choices and leading towards the career you envision, one reflective check-in at a time. Let’s make your next performance review a reflection of your proactive efforts, not just a feedback session that leaves you questioning your worth. Your career is a journey worth navigating thoughtfully. Let’s do this together.