To be disappointed with my performance review

[Deadlysinner]

So I had my annual performance appraisal on Monday which for most people would be pretty good - I got above expectations for all areas, a couple of thousand bonus and a couple of thousand pay rise, but I feel it's not good enough and I'm being sidelined.

This time last year I'd just come off a 3-month performance review and was just happy keeping my job but this time I'm so disappointed.

A colleague with very similar experience has been promoted and made head for an area of the company where I have several clients and he has none.

I'm finding it so hard to go to work as I feel really unwanted and pushed out. How do I make it through each day without quitting?

I think Gina is right. You do seem very entitled and unable to assess the situation in light of previous poor performance —(are you a man?)— and the impact that will have.

Well done for your progress. If you are serious about making headway in this role I would consider getting so coaching/counselling to give you better self-awareness.

Why were you on a performance review? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want, but ask yourself - was it fair?

The hours you work (and don’t include commute) sound long but it’s about what you do when you’re there.

Your colleague may not have clients in that specific area but they obviously have something that made them choose them over you. It could be something like people management or strategic thinking to develop an area.

You need to think about how you differ rather than thinking you’re owed if because of your long service.

It could be that because you were on a performance review your card has been marked and you might never be considered for promotion

Unfortunately this is very often the case. It shouldn't be, but it is. Performance improvement processes can be dehumanising and used to manage people sideways or out. They certainly arent a career enhancing tool!

And people who think the OP sounds entitled should read articles about human behaviour wrt intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. It misses the point to say the OP should be grateful for the money, the fact is their organisation probably couldn't care less whether their staff are on a hamster wheel, 14 hour days, relentless stress and workload. You never get that time back and if you're unhappy under those circumstances, it's time to move on, doesn't matter how much you're paid.

OP my honest advice is to move to a different dept/area of your organisation where you don't have any history, or find a new job in a different company. I bet in a different setting you'll shine and your efforts will be appreciated. You need to reinvent yourself in a place where there's no unconscious bias against you and where they need the skills you possess.

Nothing wrong with having ambition, but if you were on a performance plan only a year before, a bit too much to expect a promotion a year later.

You sound a little like myself. I appear to have an unrealistic idea of how well I'm doing compared to how other people (my employers) feel I'm doing.

I think YABU. 12 months ago you were under-performing. Leave it a couple of months and have a chat with you line manager about what you need to do to get where you want and head up a service area.
You say you have "14.5 hour days including commute" but the commute is irrelevant to you company - it's really about how productive you are that counts.

To go from a performance review to a bonus and pay rise is really good going. That cannot happen very often. You should be celebrating.

The business does not care how long your commute is, and is really unlikely to promote someone who only a year ago needing a performance review. Within the constraints of that reality you have done really well.

Your expectations are a little strange tbh. Have you moved to this place from somewhere a lot more generous maybe?

Get a new job.

(Your commute isn't counted as work, btw. It's considered your choice to live where you do.)

You congratulate yourself from turning it around and use this whole experience as one to learn from. I think you should start to look for a job closer to home.