Today I had my first quarter “performance” review. we set my goals and aligned on company values. I had to self rate myself against those values, and I made a truthful effort at rating myself with justice, so I put myself lacking in some areas and strong in others. I won’t go into the values themselves because then I’ll find it impossible not to explain my own scores, and this is not what I want to do.

They asked if I wanted to discuss it in person and I said “of course” and I went through each value explaining why I had rated myself as I had, and when I was done the bosses said basically we’re also the kind of people who are tough on themselves, but you’re doing great and if there’s anything I’d comment it would be this minor point (to which I had already taken some action). Well thanks! that’s good to hear but it doesn’t mean all I said before is not valid. Unsaid was my opinion that if aligns with the direction of personal improvement I’m reaping double benefit towards those values, so I’m happy to walk that way with the company on them. In plain: speaking at the office helps me speak outside of it too.

I was expecting average scores but I came out excellent. I would say this is the bar that they expect and I have reached it. Work is no longer a struggle but it took me a long time to warm up to a day job again. For that I’m grateful to my bosses, for having so much patience at the beginning. I ought to review them too, they been doing a excellent job of captaining the ship.