Today’s tip: FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO WELL, not what you don’t, JUST DON’T OVERDO IT!
The music had started playing a bit earlier, but for once, I had managed to go to bed at a decent time, and it took me a while to wake up, understand what was that ‘noise,’ and realize where it came from. I rushed to pick up the phone, and the screen regaled me with the face of a good friend smiling at the camera. There he was, enjoying life in the Caribbean… I focused on the light blue ocean behind my friend’s smiling face and forgot to accept the call! A whispering voice in my head was saying: “feel the sand, enjoy San Blas Islands.” Then the music rang again, kicking me out of the Caribbean and welcoming the real voice of my friend greeting me with excitement. It had been a while since we saw each other, and, after the pleasantries, we got into substance: Jorge, I need my performance review for 2019. I know I am late, but I need it now. Sorry, I just finished it. Can you please help me and look at it quickly?
Long story short, I am about to finish reviewing it, and I have slept little, but the exchange got me thinking. Why is it that we dread performance reviews so much? What part am I playing on this ‘drama’? From there to the GMN, it only took a couple of minutes, and today’s invitation is for you to join me, exploring what your relationship is with performance evaluations. Ask yourselves why is that ‘relationship’ the way it is? How can you improve it? And why should you?
If your discussions have focused on what you have done wrong or not done, or where you struggle, you should not be surprised if you dread them. Perhaps, you and your supervisor could commit to focusing first on what you do best so that you can grow further and excel instead of dedicating all the energy and time to reducing your weaknesses so that you can -at best- be average.
There is plenty to talk about this topic, but that is not for a GMN alone. It is a conversation between ‘you and you’; and then with your supervisor! Good luck!!!
Why leaders should focus on strengths not weaknesses:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/02/06/why-leaders-should-focus-on-strengths-not-weaknesses/#5505a2193d1a
Should leaders focus on their strengths or work on weaknesses:
https://t2conline.com/should-leaders-focus-on-their-strengths-or-work-on-weaknesses/#:~:text=Well%2C%20it’s%20more%20than%20obvious,that%20driving%20force%20within%20them.
Know your strengths:
https://hbr.org/2002/03/know-your-strengths
Stop overdoing your strengths:
https://hbr.org/2009/02/stop-overdoing-your-strengths
Take care, and stay safe. Be kind and generous to yourself and others. Don’t forget; work is a blessing, not a punishment!