Well, well, well, they said what about your performance? Surprise, surprise, it’s performance review time! You strut in there like you own the place, expecting a standing ovation, a raise that could buy a small country, and maybe even a golden trophy labeled “Employee of the Millennium.”
But hold the confetti! Instead of the anticipated praise, you get hit with a review suggesting your performance is in need of CPR. You might even be slapped with a performance improvement plan, and that raise? Yeah, about that…
Now, before you unleash a waterfall of tears or a volcano of anger, take a chill pill. Resist the urge to go all Hulk on your boss. Instead, let’s tackle this with the finesse of a ninja on a mission.
Stay Calm, Don’t Panic:
Take a deep breath. No, seriously, take a few. Panicking won’t fix anything. Neither will anger, depression, anxiety, revenge, walking off the job, or leaving thumb tacks on your bosses’ chair. You might want to call mom, however.
Ask for Specifics – Like, Give Me the Deets:
Politely inquire, “Could you show me an example of where my writing was ‘subpar’? Was it that memo about office snacks?” You need specifics to know what needs fixing. Just being told, “your writing needs improvement”, is not enough. What about my writing needs fixing? Grammar, spelling, content, accuracy? A particular brief, pleading, business correspondence?
Show You’re Willing to Fix Your Oops Moments:
Express your eagerness to address the concerns. Say, “I’m like a fixer-upper house, ready for renovations!” OK, don’t say that exactly. Just let them know you are open to improve. Resistence to change is a negative and you will lose 10 points in your personnel file, not gain 10 points.
Consult the Oracle (Google) for Training Opportunities:
Seek out courses, webinars, or anything that can zap you with knowledge. Check out attorney CLE courses, paralegal webinars, articles, conferences. Even if it means sacrificing your daily Starbucks Frappuccino – education is key!
Expand Your Skill Set Like a Superhero:
Look at job descriptions and think, “What more can I bring to the table?” It’s not just about fixing problems; it’s about becoming the most knowledgeable person of your office. The go-to-person is the person the firm wants. What would stop you from becoming that person?
Craft a Personal Improvement Plan – With a Dash of Pizzazz:
Don’t just say, “I’ll be better.” Lay out a plan like a strategic genius. “Step 1: Conquer bad writing; Step 2: World domination.” All right, maybe not the last part. However, you might strategize with a concrete plan: 1st quarter: take business writing course; 2nd quarter: take a Relativity course 3rd quarter: Ask for more difficult assignments 4th quarter: Write a motion for summary judgment.
Ask for Milestones – Because GPS Isn’t Just for Road Trips:
Pin them down on specifics. “What milestones should I hit? Are we talking Everest or a stroll in the park?” What do the milestones look like? Within what time frame are you looking for me to improve? (Very important because you may be on a short leash and not know it.)
Get a Mentor – They’re Like Yoda, but for Your Career:
Don’t be shy. Someone in the office is probably dying to strut their stuff and show you how it’s done. Mentors are like cheat codes for real life. If they don’t have the answer, they know how to get it. In fact, don’t just get a mentor. Get a Board of Directors: someone you can go to for writing; a second person you can go to for improving technology; another person who can teach you social media. The more teachers you have, the better you can become.
Schedule a Follow-Up – Not as a Stalker, but as a Proactive Go-Getter:
Don’t let it go cold. Request a meeting sooner rather than later. You want them to see you’re not just a flash in the pan; you’re the whole fireworks show. Meet within at least a month. Be prepared. Bring past and present work. Demonstrate the improvement. Let the uppers know what courses you have taken; what the plan is and where you are going from here.
Regular Check-Ins – Like a Progress Report, but Cooler:
Keep your boss in the loop. Regular updates show you’re serious about change. Plus, who doesn’t love progress reports? (Hint: Your boss does.)
Check the Job Market – Because Options Are a Good Thing:
It’s a vast job jungle out there. Explore. See what other opportunities are swinging from the trees. Maybe you’re not a misfit; you just need a different circus.
Remember, a job is not a marriage. At some point, you move on. If it’s not working out, don’t be afraid to seek a new adventure. It may be the best move you ever made.
About the Author
Chere Estrin has over 20 years of experience in the staffing arena, including executive positions in law firms, litigation support companies, and the legal staffing divisions of a $5billion publicly held corporation. She is CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing, a nationwide staffing organization. Ms. Estrin was founder of the Paralegal Knowledge Institute, an online CLE organization. She publishes the prestigious digital magazine, KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals, and is the former Editor-in-Chief of Sue, the Magazine for Women Litigators. She is also the author of 10 books about legal careers for attorneys and legal professionals.
Ms. Estrin’s contributions to the legal industry have been significant, and she continues to play an active role in shaping the future of legal staffing and training. She writes the popular,
award-winning blog, The Estrin Report, and has been interviewed by CBS News along with many top publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Forbes.com, Los Angeles Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Newsweek, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Journal, ABA Journal, Above the Law, ALM, Law360 and many others. She has also been a speaker for many prestigious organizations and written hundreds of articles.
As the Co-Founding Member and President of the Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP), Ms. Estrin has guided the association’s development and implementation of the eDiscovery and Litigation Support certification exams (first in the country) along with Pearson Publications, a $7 billion corporation specializing in certification exams and educational publishing. She was also the Education Director designing, creating and executing online, live training programs with an on-call roster of over 500 instructors throughout the world. Currently, she provides webinars on legal career matters for LawPractice and Lawline, two of the largest attorney CLE online training organizations.
Ms. Estrin is a co-founding member of the International Practice Management Association (IPMA) and the Organization of Legal Professionals, composed of a prestigious Board of Governors inclusive of judges, an ABA President, and well-known attorneys. She is the recipient of the Los Angeles/Century City “Women of Achievement” award and recognized as One of the Top 50 Women in Los Angeles. Ms. Estrin has been writing The Estrin Report since 2005 and most recently launched her podcast, “Lawfully Employed”.
Reach out at: chere@estrinlegalstaffing.com or visit her website at www.EstrinLegalStaffing.com.