Appraisals ...

[talkytalky]

Hi

Can anyone help please? A few years ago I moved industries - from an industry where I never in 15 years had an appraisal to one where we have them every year.

I have recently had a change in boss and whereas my old one was very casual - I do an admin job so it has been the same since I have joined with just a few changes in projects - which I do well and it has all been very positive, I now have a new boss (first management role) who thinks (and she has been quoted as saying this!) that it is her duty to raise issues so we can learn to "better ourselves"!! Therefore there are always negatives in the appraisals (she is like that in everyday dealings with everyone too).

Firstly, I really struggle writing appraisals having not come from a culture where they were done. Can anyone recommend any good sites / offer tips on how to best write one? I am really not good at blowing my own trumpet - I used to just say that "xx project was a success because I did xx" and that was fine. Now I am supposed to back it up with examples. Err .... ???

My dh (who works in the first industry and has never had an appraisal) says that I should just write what I used to and not take the criticism (it is her problem, not mine!) I don't want to cause any problems but do want to stand up for myself. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks very much. I am still 5 months away from my next appraisal but it is already worrying me. (She has also decided - which isn't company policy! - that we all need half-yearly mini-appraisals where she can appraise us and, presumably, try and make us better people )

TIA

Personally, I would think first about how to manage your new boss in a way that will constructively help the situation rather than wind you both up.

My approach to appraisals is to link it to work objectives, look at the barriers to achieving those objectives and how to make sure they get done. So I might look at "bettering" myself if there is a training need identified. It is good practice, I think, to have a half-yearly appraisal. It has certainly been a common feature of any other appraisal system I've seen.

Then there is the old SMART objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Realistic and Timely. If you hook your discussion around SMART objectives then it might help you develop a framework for discussion and prevent her going off on a tangent.

Good luck!

Oh, I also wanted to ask, if I get points raised in my appraisal that I don't agree with but don't challenge, does it really affect anything?

Our company are not doing pay rises this year (or last for that matter) and I am not desperate to stay in this particular industry when I move on.

I obviously don't want - and don't expect! - a bad review but she is so unpredictable who knows ...

Thanks again :)

Thanks llareggub. Everyone in the department (and outside it for that matter!) has the same problem with her. I get on the best with her and really try, but her attitude ...

My last appraisal was full of objectives I could never realistically meet. I told her that, we discussed it (as in she asked me who on the team she should give it to and I pointed out I didn't think anyone had time!) but she agreed she would add it and I was to keep her updated as we went along. I have missed almost all of the objectives!!!

That's why I am not sure that I can expect her to be fair this time.

Well, it depends on the issue. If something is raised that you suspect may be used in the future for things like pay determination or redundancy selection, then absolutely, you must challenge it.

My appraisals have always been signed off by my manager's manager, so depends on how you want to manage your reputation.

In that sort of situation I would look to counter the objective with a counter-proposal that I considered realistic, ensuring that I highlighted the reasons why it couldn't be met in the stated time.

Sounds a nightmare!

Thanks llareggub.

My old boss is my new boss's boss so knows me well. I was more concerned with would it be used as a refernce to a new job?

Do you know any good webistes where I can learn what kind of things to write?

Thanks again. It's really useful to talk this over :)

criticism and praise are both parts of appraisal, but there should be no suprises in an appraisal which you have not already been made aware of. If your boss is using an appraisal to raise new issues, she's doing things wrong.

The best appraisals are when the person being appraised sets their own goals and objectives while being supported and guided by the manager.

look at it from the view that no one's perfect, there's always something you could do better, and that this is by no means an indication that you're lacking in the way you currently do your job, but that there is room for improvement in everyone, while acknowledging the great stuff you do already. this is commonly known as an appraisal sandwich, where you get good feedback, then talk about stuff that could be done better, finished off with some more good feedback.

i'm a bit of an appraisal veteran at giving and receiving them.

sometimes certain issues are best discussed outside of the appraisal environment, but generally if someone is doing fine, could do a little better in some things and everything's ticking along nicely, then it's usually a positive experience, though appreciate it's nerve racking if you're new to them.