How to Respond to a Bad Performance Review
Posted in Job Performance
Not all performance reviews come out well. Some may result in the employee getting low scores or receiving negative comments on their performance reviews. Receiving such bad performance reviews can be very devastating indeed, aside from being quite discouraging at times.
But before you try to sulk by a dark corner when you get a bad performance review, there are some things that you can do. If you think that the review results may not be presented your actual status more accurately, you have a reason to respond to it.
Some people may just look at a bad performance review and leave it at that. But there are times that managers may have overlooked something and may have failed to look upon what you have done in the true light of things. In this instance, you may come out and respond to the review with the person who have prepared it, if you really believe that it doesn't portray an accurate picture.
Be Careful
Before you take any action, try to read the review result very carefully. Try not to respond immediately to the bad performance review before you have given it a thorough read. Try to determine if the negative comments and points given on the review have some valid points.
Try to read carefully whether the negative comments are given in an objective manner. But if you still see that the bad performance review stemmed from taking offense on your work or criticizing you for other than your actual performance, then you can go on and proceed with your response to the bad review.
Set Up an Appointment
Once you have considered that some of the points on the performance review, you can then try to set up a meet with the person that have prepared the review results. But be sure that you have already prepared beforehand the points that you want to contest and cite examples to prove of the opposite being true.
Don't Be Too Confrontational
During the actual meet up, try not to involve yourself into a confrontation. Try to make it into an objective discussion over the points that you wish to clarify. It would be good to acknowledge at the start whatever points in the review that the reviewer may have gotten correct.
Then you can cite out the other points that you can honestly say are not just true. You may need to cite examples or proof to convince the reviewer. Try to end the discussion in a good light. You may also try to ask for suggestions on how you may be able to improve in some of the areas to make the next performance review get an even better result.
