Relax, Buddy, you are an architect of your own future!

“On a scrutiny of your KPA (KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS), I observe…” the team manager continued his conversation with the colleague during the half-yearly review and Christopher was really feeling shaky, uncomfortable and stressed.  On every comment on KPA observed by the team leader, Christopher made his point, tried to explain the challenges and the limitations he had and the circumstances in which he discharged his responsibilities. Nevertheless, he was worried because this assessment of his team leader would determine the possibilities of his promotion to the next cadre. He had an inner feeling that the team manager is not going to be fair to him because he had expressed some contradictory views oftentimes during brainstorm sessions.

The scenario is not uncommon in many organizations where the personal bias of the manager or the supervisor impacts  the work profile of those under his or her care. Consequently, even diligent workers with proven track-record withdraw into their shells or start looking for opportunities elsewhere. Many organizations do have an appellate system where such reports are reviewed, but many times they are validated to protect the author of the report.  Many organizations do see a beeline of people calling it a day from their companies soon after such reviews. Work audits in every organization must be based on sound, transparent and auditable formats. HR departments have a key role to play in this, in their own interest.

On a different note, the question arises, whether the person under scrutiny should feel victimized, defeated, and develop self-pity or should just quit? Should he torture the self with feelings that would give him a safe entry into a world of depression?

A difficult situation indeed!

Surviving the onslaught of a negative feedback from a senior manager is indeed a challenge.  He may be right or wrong. That is not the issue. But how does it leave the employee who has been subjected to this procedure?  The following possibilities do exist:

1.     One might give into a feeling of self-doubt about his or her latent competency.

2.     One  may be worried-- what kind of a message it would give to the peers if they come to know or how it would impact his existing brand in the organization.

3.     One might think that working in such a situation that is unfair and is a continuous threat, is not good for his or her mental health and hence may give up doing good work.

4.     One may be convinced that so long the supervisor works in this company, he or she may not get a fair report and hence it is not worth putting in the efforts.

If it were you, even if all these were true, remember, it is time that you get on and get over. None of these are in real terms, roadblocks to your future. Aren’t you the architect of your future? Can anyone stop the kind of energy that flows when you enjoy your work? Real work can radiate only positive energy and not the negative. Hence engage into real work, let the feedbacks rest awhile. Reset your work clock!

May be, yes, you can sit down for a minute or two, and reflect on the feedback you have got. Surely, there may be some take-a-ways, which would help you to enrich. And do address them. Don’t expect everyone to love what you do, but it is important that you should love what you do!

But, relax, buddy, you are an architect, an architect of your own future, an architect of your own destiny… hence enjoy your work! Stay focused on how could you lay a foundation for a strong future. Never let a few observations or comments destroy your life. Sir Edmund Hillary, the conqueror of Mount Everest says in most adorable terms “It is not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves.”

Remember, Life is much bigger than the company you work or the situations that you are just facing. You need to realize that the inner and latent potentials  you  have, are still active and possibly might get recognized or rewarded another time either here or elsewhere. Possibly, you should examine how to re-engineer your work profile. But, till that time you need patience. You need to hold on to the best that you have. Surrendering oneself to a victim’s soul and singing soliloquy of depression is nothing but self-defeat!

History is evidence to the fact that there are thousands who have really failed multiple times, but have just outwitted the society by their continuous pursuit for growth and excellence. You are, therefore, not the one, who is left out. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts” says Sir Winston Churchill.

What if, you don’t get a promotion? What if you don’t get a better room or a chair? What if, your company has not added some additional perks which you think you deserve? Does the respect and honor you get exclusively or directly proportional and dependent on those references? One can lead, from where he is or she is.. if you have the skill, the charm, the energy and the drive…then people will come to take your leadership. Sometimes they may not acknowledge openly. Therefore, relax, create your own leadership, unique to yourself...!

Ask, have you ever created a need for yourself in your organization? How would they keep you if you are not needed? Why should they keep you if you are not needed? And, have you ever thought how you create a need for yourself?

If the organization needs a person, they will hesitate to leave or part with him, except on ethical grounds or under some extraordinary circumstances. Organizations indeed need people who are treasure houses of skills and competency. And once you have the skills and competency, you will be noticed, you will be watched, you will be admired, you will be followed, you will be searched. Your skills and competency do radiate the kind of light and positive energy the company may be searching for. So ask yourself, do you have those skills and competencies? It is not what you think, that alone matters, but it is what you can deliver.

Several people, who were not found fit for a promotion at a point of time, have shown remarkable growth in the same organizations, to the extent, they had led the organization later from the top.

Therefore, buddy, relax!  Enjoy your work. Remember, you are architect. You have the ability and opportunity to re-engineer your vision if needed. By changing your strategies at work, you are neither deceiving yourself nor playing an escapist. Giving to self-pity, self-contempt, sympathy syndrome are more dangerous than the loss of a promotion.

Enjoying the work indeed calls for an experience of immersion. Feeling in it.. being in it,… breathing it out..

And being a part of the pain and pleasure of walking with it. The reward is that joy and that pain… Now, it is time for you to evaluate your own KPA!