My first performance review
I woke up Friday with an anxious feeling in my stomach. It wasn’t because I had a million projects to complete or because I was going home to face my recent ex-boyfriend. Instead, it was my performance review with Holly and Shelly, two of my colleagues at Eisbrenner Public Relations.
Even though I get continuous feedback, there’s something scary about an official performance review. I always assume the worst. I took a thick notebook and two brand new pens to take notes just in case the first pen ran out of ink.
Since the snow had subsided and the weather was nice, we decided to have our review at Goldfish Tea, a local café. My walking pace mocked my heart rate – speedy from anxiety. Since Shelly has longer legs than I do, she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, but Holly, whose legs are about half as long as mine, was practically jogging to keep up with me. The way she contorted her face in determination to catch up made me laugh and eased my pace and tension.
Once we got to the tea shop, we ordered our drinks and chose a table near the back where we could talk comfortably. We small talked about tea, laughed and talked more. “Ok, enough beating around the bush, tell me about my flaws!”
We talked for an hour about my experience, and then they asked what they could do to improve my internship. Wait a minute, I thought this meeting was about how I could do a better job at Eisbrenner PR, not the other way around. Whose performance were we reviewing?
Come to find out, a performance review goes both ways. Holly and Shelly offered advice about life and I vented about how the transition into adulthood isn’t so easy. When they addressed the areas where I could improve, they also offered ideas to help me overcome my weaknesses.
I left my review feeling like a valued Eisbrenner PR member.
Performance reviews aren’t the end of the world after all. I learned staying positive and truly understanding where the criticism is coming from makes the process an opportunity for self improvement.
Constructive criticism is a valuable aspect of successful teamwork, and it should never stop within an organization. I’m an intern, but Eisbrenner PR is a flat organization, and the president of the company values my input just as much as I value his.
Have you ever had a performance review? What was the most useful constructive criticism you received?
Even though I get continuous feedback, there’s something scary about an official performance review. I always assume the worst. I took a thick notebook and two brand new pens to take notes just in case the first pen ran out of ink.
Since the snow had subsided and the weather was nice, we decided to have our review at Goldfish Tea, a local café. My walking pace mocked my heart rate – speedy from anxiety. Since Shelly has longer legs than I do, she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, but Holly, whose legs are about half as long as mine, was practically jogging to keep up with me. The way she contorted her face in determination to catch up made me laugh and eased my pace and tension.
Once we got to the tea shop, we ordered our drinks and chose a table near the back where we could talk comfortably. We small talked about tea, laughed and talked more. “Ok, enough beating around the bush, tell me about my flaws!”
We talked for an hour about my experience, and then they asked what they could do to improve my internship. Wait a minute, I thought this meeting was about how I could do a better job at Eisbrenner PR, not the other way around. Whose performance were we reviewing?
Come to find out, a performance review goes both ways. Holly and Shelly offered advice about life and I vented about how the transition into adulthood isn’t so easy. When they addressed the areas where I could improve, they also offered ideas to help me overcome my weaknesses.
I left my review feeling like a valued Eisbrenner PR member.
Performance reviews aren’t the end of the world after all. I learned staying positive and truly understanding where the criticism is coming from makes the process an opportunity for self improvement.
Constructive criticism is a valuable aspect of successful teamwork, and it should never stop within an organization. I’m an intern, but Eisbrenner PR is a flat organization, and the president of the company values my input just as much as I value his.
Have you ever had a performance review? What was the most useful constructive criticism you received?
posted by Jamie at 2:08 PM
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