Dan, a client I coached through a career transition, started working with me after being laid off. Prior to being let go, Dan’s company had put him on a performance improvement plan, or “PIP,” as it’s euphemistically called in HR. Although he was aware that he had areas to work on, Dan thought his job was safe and that he’d have a longer timeframe to better his performance. He thus found himself totally blindsided when he was fired.
Expecting a Bad Performance Review? Here’s How to Prepare.
Six ways to get ahead of it.
July 07, 2022
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Summary.
By preemptively taking action if you expect to receive a bad performance review, you may be able to steer a different course for yourself and avoid a foregone conclusion — or at least feel better about the outcome. The author offers six steps to take before and after your review if you know your performance has been subpar. First, reflect on your own assumptions about your performance to understand what you need to work on. Second, get your teammates’ perspective. Third, proactively invite your manager to have a conversation with you — and be direct with them. Fourth, own up to your mistakes and put together a plan to improve. Fifth, follow up on that plan with your manager. Finally, show your manager you care about doing better. If you still receive a negative review despite your best efforts to be proactive, it may help you realize that your skills, strengths, and interests don’t align with the needs of your current role.