More than half of Malaysians are not satisfied with their company’s appraisal policy, according to a recent Monster.com survey in Malaysia. Whether it’s due to unclear assessment criteria or a poor performance, negative feedback is never easy to hear. However, it can be a valuable reality check and an opportunity for growth. But instead of brushing the criticism under the rug, you’ll need to meditate on it in order to understand why you received a poor performance, you can move forward and turn things around.
Failure to deliver
If your work rarely meets the client’s expectations or consistently requires extensive changes, it could be that you need to reassess your position what you consider to be a quality first draft. Remember that delivering stellar work and meeting your KPIs are key measurements for your employers. To move forward and increase your performance, it’s crucial, to be honest: examine why your week is considered subpar and what support you may need to improve. Once you have identified the obstacles, be proactive and talk to your manager about it. The fact that you’re willing to come up with solutions will earn you some plus points.
Lack of effort
Never underestimate your own abilities and effort, and keep in mind that going the extra mile can really set you apart in the workplace. Whether it’s in managing your daily tasks, flagging potential problems early or proposing a new concept, managers will recognise your additional efforts.
Feeling inadequate
The biggest hurdle to advancing in your career is often your own self – doubting your capabilities can seriously impair your performance and ambition at work. Without confidence in your own abilities and knowledge, you won’t attempt to take on new challenges and will lose motivation before you even start. Sometimes the trick to upping your confidence is to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Besides, taking on new challenges is the way to move your career ahead anyway.
Refusing to grow
No matter what we do or how well we do it, criticism is going to come our way. Resisting feedback will keep you from understanding what you can do to improve and succeed. Hearing potentially negative things about yourself is never easy, but if you proactively ask your managers or superiors for feedback regarding the areas in which they think you can improve, you’ll know exactly what you need to focus on and you can spend your time honing those skills. And keep in mind that being able to give and receive advice, feedback and criticism is a fundamental skill for more senior roles.
Low energy
The way you contribute to your professional environment is as important as what you contribute. You may have the experience and skills, but if your approach and attitude are negative, you might sink your career. A toxic environment will not only affect your performance but the people around you. It’s important to be great at what we do, but we must also display the right attitude on a day-to-day basis.
