Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Evaluations

Are we really always our own worst critics? I know that I’ve read in a few places how women are usually their own worst critic, we don’t necessarily like take credit for something easily, even when we know we did work really hard on it, while men are going to be tooting their own horns readily and easily…and it’s expected. It’s the male mindset, and I’m not saying that as a bad thing. I look at my friends and seem to see that pattern, men vs the women… And the really bad thing is, if, as a woman, we do take the credit when we deserve it, it comes across as boasting and bragging and considered a bad thing…yet men can do it and it’s fine. Why the double standard? Is it because there is still an expectation that women should be at home, and maybe don’t belong as much in the working world as we’d like to be and expect to be?? Because some of us are even stepping up and saying I don’t want kids (and you have to be really brave and ready to field all kind of questions and responses of “oh, you’ll change your mind”) and are not willing to put careers on hold to be at home with kids (when so many still seem to think that even if you work for a while, if you have a kid you should be at home!) even if we do have them. It still kind of puts you behind since there is maternity leave and time away from work when kids are sick etc…All of this seems to be an unfair double standard and unfortunately it’s both men and women that will judge those that ignore the “mold” we should maybe fit in. But I digress, I was looking at the idea of evaluations and building yourself up…I’ve always been my own harshest critic…no matter what I can’t seem to say I did a great job, or I look great or what not (unless I’m drinking of course, then I go way opposite my norm!!)…and right now, it’s that time of year at work. We are to do our evaluation, then our boss does it, and then we review and finalize it, come up with objectives for the next year and this is all submitted and by February it translates into a dollar amount increase in pay (hopefully a nice one!!)…of course we all know the standard basically is a 3% cost of living (yeah, right, like that’s all cost of living has gone up!) and no matter how good you do you really can’t get much more than that, unless you’re in a really small company where people have more control…although apparently my boss has said he’s had some luck in the past pushing through a higher amount, here’s hoping (I do really like my boss, he is one to fight for his employees!!). I spoke with him yesterday regarding the evaluations and how you go about filling them out, etc since this is my first and I had already looked at it and in typical fashion was putting low scores in, and in looking at the objectives I had, he was saying higher numbers, so when I went back to actually fill it in, I thought, well, he said this so I went ahead with higher numbers…even giving myself the highest scores on items, that, yes, I really did meet and exceed expectations. I’ve had good feedback from those I work with, including the president of the company, why shouldn’t I toot my own horn and tell people I did great, especially when it really counts for something!!

3 comments:

RunnerGirl said...

That graphic is hilarious!

Anonymous said...

First of all, I know what happens when you choose not to have children. People don't get it. And, they usually say, "Oh, you don't have kids, YET?" I usually leave it at that. But, anyway. . .

Good for you for tooting your own horn. If you're doing well, your eval. should show it. Way to "be the man!" (ha!) I hope your pay raise is a good one!

MNFirefly said...

Love the graphic!