Annual Appraisal

[timwilky]

It is about 10 years since I had my last annual appraisal. But, I am having one today.

I have already mailed my boss to tell him I will be late as I have an appointment with the toothwright at 9:30. then a 2 hour drive to the office and the appraisal is scheduled for 11:30.

Is this a good start?.

What do people talk about in appraisals these days.? I have probably only seen my boss about 3 times in the last year.

[454697819]

depends on your relationship witht the boss man..

ours are informal chats and b/s on the official form,

previously i have had structured appraisal's so a form to go through with directed questions the sort you cant really put exactly how you feel becuase it doesnt quite ask what you want to say,

pay rises rarley get mentioned, infact they possitivly start to stare throuh you when you say this.. :lol:

howver if urs only happen 1 in 10 years possibly a good chance to talk through some bugging issues?

good luck...

oh and late... it happens..

[Tara]

mine last about an hour. The company I work for are big on promoting what they consider the big 6 values (i won't bore you with the details) but then your graded on how well you work towards the values and your pay rise is calculated on that grade. we also set the objectives for next year at that time too

good luck Tim

[Viney]

It is about 10 years since I had my last annual appraisal. But, I am having one today.

I have already mailed my boss to tell him I will be late as I have an appointment with the toothwright at 9:30. then a 2 hour drive to the office and the appraisal is scheduled for 11:30.

Is this a good start?.

What do people talk about in appraisals these days.? I have probably only seen my boss about 3 times in the last year.Mine is the same form year to year. Every year i say that i want to move on. So i do some courses, and imstill here. I have now run out of courses, and there is no where for me to move too anyway. Its all bollox

[Ed]

Mine is the same form year to year. Every year i say that i want to move on. So i do some courses, and imstill here. I have now run out of courses, and there is no where for me to move too anyway. Its all bollox

So it was at the last place I worked at. Went through this pointless exercise that lasted an hour or so, and nothing ever changed. Shareholders always complaining about inadequate dividends, and high cost, and sod everyone who did the work and kept them in clover.

[northwind]

Mine used to be... eventful. I'd safe up grievances against the company, and they'd save up complaints about me, and then we'd fight till only the last man (me) standing. Used to be an office highlight ;) My assistant manager told me once "Fiona said to me right before, he's not going to get me this time... And you got her worse than ever" :)

Example:

"We want to mention your absence record, which is unacceptably high. We intend to take this to a formal disciplinary level"
"Funnily enough, I wanted to mention the ways in which you've failed to live up to your promises regarding my return to work after my fractured hip, which has caused me unneccesary further complications and absences. Since you gave me those in writing before I returned to work, and I've kept the emails in which you subsequently reneged on our agreement, I think it's in your interest to settle this informally"

It was like buzzword bingo sometimes... "harrassment", "discrimination" "constructive dismissal" "life to work balance" "union representative" HOUSE! How I miss my old job.

[timwilky]

It was an interesting experience. My boss told me at the start not to shout at him has he had scored me higher and had been overruled by the UK IT Director.

The appraisal form was split into 3 parts, job, behaviour, and action.

Apparently I am extremely good technically and possess skills and knowledge that under utilised by the company. However I was marked down because "Bahavioural : Tim is not a particularly strong team player and does not suffer fools gladly. Tim will flourish in a role where he is given responsibility and freedom to to make technical decisions to get the job done. The skillset is therefore very much akin to that of a consultant. Unfortunately, the issue currently is that there are very few technical projects within XXXX where it is possible to attain this level of responsibility / empowerment. Tim owns problems and is tenacious in resolving them where others may fail, prefering difficult technical / project challenges to routine work."



The action relating to my lack of team playing was interesting in that it said "Tim is probably not going to change his bahaviour at this stage of his career. There are also elements of this behaviour that help make him a very capable technical expert, e.g confidence in own ability and decision making." . Do I get any more money?, no :cry:. But we will try to find you more projects with completion bonuses.

Strange that I came away happy with the appraisal, in that is fairly represented me. however, still unhappy that the senior management have a single scoring mentality that fail to recognise that a perceived weakness may actually be a beneficial attribute

[Baph]

The action relating to my lack of team playing was interesting in that it said "Tim is probably not going to change his bahaviour at this stage of his career. There are also elements of this behaviour that help make him a very capable technical expert, e.g confidence in own ability and decision making." . Do I get any more money?, no :cry:. But we will try to find you more projects with completion bonuses.

Strange that I came away happy with the appraisal, in that is fairly represented me. however, still unhappy that the senior management have a single scoring mentality that fail to recognise that a perceived weakness may actually be a beneficial attribute
I see that as them seeing a weakness in you, but also recognising the benefit in that approach.

However, the cost/benefit analysis of your weakness/strength as far as being a team player goes, means that the senior management can't justify paying you more. Bummer.

It does seem like a positive review though :)

[Filipe M.]

Team work is often overrated. I'm not against it, mind, but it has it's time and place, and it can be a very good way to grind everything to a complete stop if imposed upon people.

[UlsterSV]

I hate all that 'team player' bullsh*t. I just want to go in, keep my head down and do my job, and then go home again. As long as I'm doing a good job, I don't really care if I'm being a 'team player' or not.

[Ed]

Tim - USV is right, there are far too few individuals now cos everyone has this team mentality. Nobody wants to take decisions, taking decisions by committee is ineffective.

I think you've got what it takes to be MD. After all, how many MDs have you come across who are team players - ie, yes-men?

[600+]

Not wishing to get shout at here but this is my advice to you cause I have been there and have been and am a manager of some sorts....ie I have people that I manage

From what they said I would suggest that you see the constructive side of the appraisal. Being a techie doesn't sell a lot these days unfortunately BUT I would suggest that from now on you disprove them by becoming a team player.

As such it doesn't mean that you will not be taking decision as you did in the past BUT try and show that you are interested in what other people have to say ( most of the time with you being the expert they will probably chat cr@p but give them the chance to say it cause then it looks like you are interested in the TEAM MENTALITY)

An MD is not a TEAM PLAYER as a yes-men but he doesn't make you feel neglected or not worth speaking to.

It took me sometime to get into this mentality and its certainly not something I follow outside work. But if it helps me progress in my career then so be it.

It's all politics unfortunately whether we like it or not. If you don't like it then start your own business!

[Dicky Ticker]

Bl**dy Nora ---sounds like school reports. Just glad I work for myself and my appraisal comes as ££££££££ and I'm def not a team player as I don't suffer fools lightly and will be dammed if I'm going to carry some numpity-----Cruel but true