The Review of You

It’s late December, which at my company means…annual performance reviews.  Blahhh!  I know.  It’s dreadful.  And, my company does it right before Christmas.  Total bummer, unless you’re expecting a juicy raise and glowing admiration from your boss. 

No matter which side of the table you sit on, there are several words that likely do not describe the experience…

• Enjoyable
• Fun
• Exciting; or
• Delightful

Usually, the mood is dispassionate.  I always try to lighten the air, but telling a joke at the beginning of a performance meeting isn’t usually a smart move.  Hey, before we get down to business, did you hear the one about the priest and the chicken? 

Once, just once, I dream of the day when an employee will enter the room for their review totally pumped up, like Dwight from The Office:

No, it never happens like that.  Trust me.

One thing I’ve learned from giving and receiving reviews (and from life experience in general) is that it can be very hard to see yourself as others see you.  There may be room for improvement that you didn’t recognize.  Or, maybe others see fabulous traits and strengths in you that you didn’t know were there.

When it comes to job performance, you’ve gotta know if you’re doing a good job and how your work is being rated.  But, the question is…in life outside of Business-land, is it equally valuable to know how you are perceived by others?  Or, is it okay to be unaware?

This past summer during a gab session with my girlfriends, I asked them straight up how they perceived me.  I asked them to remove their filters.  Most of what they said matched up with what I think about myself, Funny, yes.  Caring, yes.  Fashionable, not really.  Loyal, absolutely.  Athletic, kind of. 

But, a few things were eye-opening.  Like, I thought my directness was appreciated, until they said it sometimes comes out as cold-hearted and insensitive.  The Review of Me, in retrospect, was enlightening.

The best part about it was the nice things that were said.  If you ever need a pick-me-up, don’t be shy about asking people to say something nice about you.  “Girl, what do you like about me?”  Or, when your man says “I love you” respond by asking “Why?”  I ask my husband why he loves me all the time.  Hearing someone sing your praises is a total boost to the ol’ self confidence. 

Imagine that you can see yourself through other people’s eyes.  Do you think it matches up with how you see yourself?

Only a few days left until Christmas!  Ho! Ho! Ho! and jolly good cheer from The Chameleon’s Backbone.