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Big Mistakes Bosses Make During Performance Reviews

big mistakes bosses make during performance reviews Performance reviews are a very important event in most companies. Your boss will sit down, evaluate your skills, and determine whether you deserve a pay raise.

Emotionally this meeting can be gut wrenching at best. However, what you may not be aware of is that sometimes managers are prone to making mistakes during this time. Being aware of this fact can give you a better understanding of the inner workings of this normal process.

Six Big Mistakes Bosses Make During Performance Reviews

Explained below through a list that illuminates the biggest mistakes that your boss will make during your performance review. When evaluated, take note of them to see if you find yourself in this position.

No one likes judgment, but in certain cases, you may catch mistakes made by your boss during this time. If these things are happening to you be observant and aware of them and know that bosses are people too.

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Big Mistakes Bosses Make During Performance Reviews

Here is a list of the six biggest mistakes made by bosses during the time in which they review your job performance.

  1. Avoiding Specifics
    At your meeting your boss may be reading over your employee folder, but not really telling you anything specific about your progress. Companies rely on the various systems they use to measure employee progress. Each employer uses a ranking system, a numerical rating, or recommendations given by the employee's supervisor, to name two. The employer should provide a detailed explanation, especially when you ask the employer for more detail.

    No matter how many short phrases of praise they throw into your review, you deserve more than a simple “good work” or “nice job.” The whole point of this review is to speak with your manager about what you do right, and what you do wrong. Then you can learn how to adjust your work habits to become a better, more productive employee.
  2. Neglecting Preparation
    Some bosses try to conduct these interviews with a minimal amount of time and effort involved as if they were a burden. If it seems as though your manager is underprepared for your review, they may be. A common mistake that many managers are guilty of making is to neglect to take adequate time to be properly prepared.

    The boss should be setting the bar for the level of production expected in the workplace. If the boss fails to complete one of the tasks with enthusiasm and preparation, then how are the rest of the employees supposed to feel about working there?
  3. All Negative
    If you dread your performance review, it's probably because your boss is guilty of this next mistake: having only negative things to say. Your manager is supposed to point out your weaknesses to help you improve your efficiency. The bad news should also include some positive reinforcement.

    Notice how your boss portrays your review and if he compliments any of your achievements. If he doesn't mention any positive aspects of your work, clearly he is making this mistake.
  4. No Appreciation
    An employer should thank you for all of your hard work and the sacrifices that you make for your job. Many employees are stretched way too thin in their jobs and are even completing work that should technically be done by other employees.

    This level of commitment and your “above and beyond” attitude should be rewarded with the employer's gratitude and appreciation. Forgetting to say thank you for all that you do for the company is a big mistake.
  5. Using Evaluations as the Only Outlet
    Evaluations only happen every so often; they are normally not frequent events. Some bosses use these evaluations as the only time to tell their employees how they are performing. If an employee is consistently doing something wrong, it is the manager's responsibility to confront that employee and teach them how to do their job correctly.

    Employers should take notice of your productivity on a daily or weekly basis and speak with you regularly to let you know how you are doing. It would help if you didn't have to wait six months or a year for a progress report.
  6. They Do All the Talking
    If you sit down for an evaluation and you say next to nothing, then your employer isn't conducting this review properly. It is YOUR review, which means that you should have some participation during the meeting.

    The manager should ask you if you have any questions about your job, or if you have any comments or suggestions you would like to make to improve the workplace. Your feedback is incredibly important to a company, so neglecting to ask for it is short-sighted.
Performance reviews can be stressful, but it may put you more at ease when you know exactly how they are supposed to play out. Managers are people and are not always perfect. Just because they are your boss does not mean that they have set up a proper meeting for your evaluation. As you have seen, bosses making big mistakes at performance reviews may be more common than one would think. Now armed with this knowledge, you can go into your next review on alert, ready to spot these errors.