1. Seeking Feedback and Promotions

2. Lesson Overview Seeking and receiving feedback in the workplace
Earning a promotion
Developing a career-path strategy
Chapter 8, Lesson 3

3. Which kinds of feedback are helpful?
Quick Write
Has someone ever praised you for your work on the job or in school? Has someone ever criticized you?
Pick one incident—a time when you’ve been praised or criticized—and write a
paragraph about it.
Which kinds of feedback are helpful?
Which kinds are not?
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4. Feedback in the Workplace
You’ve learned that giving and receiving feedback is part of the communication process
Although feedback is important in any communication, it is essential in the workplace
Feedback can come from your boss or your coworkers
In some jobs, it comes from customers
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5. Feedback in the Workplace
Feedback is a good source of motivation
It lets you know whether you’re doing good work
It can also provide suggestions for improvement
If well used, feedback leads to improvements that can benefit individuals and organizations
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6. Seeking Feedback
Unfortunately, lack of feedback is common in the workplace
It’s usually not intentional
Sometimes bosses and others are so busy that they just forget
Or they may assume that as long as they don’t criticize your work, you automatically understand that they approve of it
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7. Seeking Feedback If your boss doesn’t give feedback, ask for it
It will show your boss that you want to improve
Feedback can come from just about anyone in an organization
For example, if you are new to a job, seek out experienced people whom you can trust to evaluate your performance
You should also ask for feedback from your colleagues, coworkers, and fellow team members
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8. Receiving Feedback
Informal feedback helps organizations and their employees improve continually
It allows supervisors, employees, and team members to be aware of their day-to-day performance
But organizations also need a more regular, structured means of providing feedback
They do this through a variety of evaluation processes
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9. Performance Appraisal
One means of formal feedback in an organization is a performance appraisal, or a systematic review of how well an individual employee has performed during a specified period
Some companies refer to this as a performance review or a performance evaluation
A performance appraisal is often based on written standards or expectations that the employee and supervisor have discussed in advance
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10. Performance Appraisal
A performance appraisal is a tool for growth
If your organization gives performance appraisals, your boss will probably schedule one with you once or twice a year
It will be a one-on-one session—just you and your boss will take part
Your supervisor may use the results of your appraisal to decide whether to give you a salary increase or a promotion
A good appraisal also offers suggestions on how to overcome your weaknesses
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11. 360-Degree Feedback
Another type of formal feedback in organizations is 360-degree feedback
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12. 360-Degree Feedback
A performance appraisal that comes from all levels around the employee—from a boss, coworkers, and subordinates, as well as the employee himself or herself.
The “360 degrees” refers to the degrees in a circle, and like a circle, this appraisal is complete
It gives everyone an opportunity to provide input
It also lets you learn how people see you from many angles
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13. Responding to Feedback
Responding to feedback can be difficult
If the feedback is positive, you’ll naturally be proud
But don’t become arrogant
Ask the person what you could do to improve your work even more
And never let a positive appraisal be an excuse for coasting
Continue to do your best every day
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14. Responding to Feedback
If the feedback is negative, don’t get defensive
Learn from what the person giving feedback tells you
Ask polite questions that help you understand the remarks and see things from the other person’s point of view
Above all, don’t reply to the reviewer in anger
Go away and think about what the reviewer has said so you can come up with a calm and useful response
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15. The Halo Effect Watch out for the halo effect
The halo effect is a reviewer’s or boss’s tendency to assume that if an employee is above (or below) average in one area of performance, he or she is above (or below) average in all areas
The halo effect can also stem from a reviewer’s tendency to rate someone based on experience rather than on recent observations
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16. Feedback Is Not Always Fair
It’s a fact of life that people will not always judge you fairly
The bottom line: Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, no matter what others say
In the light of this self-knowledge, listen carefully to others
Always give and receive feedback graciously
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17. Earning a Promotion
If you’ve worked for an organization for a while and done a good job, you may be eligible for a promotion, or a new job at a higher level
This new position will enable you to use the skills and knowledge you’ve developed in your current job and give you opportunities to develop new ones
A promotion will usually give you a higher salary and a more impressive title
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18. Benefits
A promotion may also increase your benefits, or compensation you receive from your employer in addition to your salary
Benefits can include a number of things, such as health insurance, more paid vacation days, participation in a company retirement-savings plan, life insurance, or a company car
Many employers offer these kinds of benefits as a way of building good employer-employee relations
These employers value their employees and want them to stay loyal to the company or organization
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19. Disadvantages of a Promotion
A promotion will mean more responsibility and higher expectations
You might have to work longer hours
You may have to supervise people for the first time, or your supervisory responsibilities may increase
If you think management isn’t one of your strengths, you may initially be uncomfortable in that role
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20. Types of Promotions Merit Promotion Ability Promotion
Based on performance in your current job
Like a reward
You get more money and a higher position because you’ve done well in your present post
Ability Promotion
Based on your potential to do a new job
You may think of it as a challenge.
It rests on someone’s belief that you are able to handle broader responsibilities
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21. Should You Accept a Promotion?
Ultimately, you are the person who will do the job, and you need to be comfortable in it
Be sure you understand what you are getting into and that you can do what the new job requires
The key is self-knowledge—you must be aware of your strengths and weaknesses
You must have the self-confidence to accept new opportunities, but you should not try to exceed your limits
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22. How to Get a Promotion Seek more responsibility in your current job
Document the good things you’ve done in your current job
Understand the responsibilities of the new job and do the needed preparation
Be prepared to explain why you are a good match for the new position
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23. How to Get a Promotion
Be able to explain why promoting you will help the organization
Know where you want to go with your career and how a promotion fits with your ambitions
Develop a good relationship with your employer
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24. Developing a Career-Path Strategy
A career path is the route a person follows in pursuing his or her career goals
To achieve your career goal, you must have a career-path strategy, or a plan for how you will make progress in your career
A career-path strategy will help ensure that you reach your goal as quickly and efficiently as possible
A career-path strategy is a written document that sets forth everything you’ll need to do to gain the knowledge, skills, and competence to function well in the career you’ve selected
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25. Developing a Career-Path Strategy
If you know what career path you want to pursue, you can start to outline a strategy now
Begin your career-path strategy by writing down your ultimate goal
When you write your career-path strategy, include the educational qualifications you‘ll need—such as degrees—and the training each job requires
Think about informal, as well as formal, opportunities for learning. Ask yourself, “What other experience do I need to reach my career goals?”
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26. Developing a Career-Path Strategy
Ultimately, you want to become an authority in your field—someone to whom others look for answers and expertise
A career-path strategy is an excellent way to ensure you’ll achieve your professional goals
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27. Steps in Career Advancement
Learn how to learn
Learn from your job
Perform your job well
Know your potential next jobs
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28. Steps in Career Advancement
Try to understand your next job
Find a mentor and develop a network
Keep track of your career accomplishments
Make clear career choices
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29. Review
Although feedback is important in any communication, it is essential in the workplace
Unfortunately, lack of feedback is common in the workplace
If your boss doesn’t give feedback, ask for it
A performance appraisal is a systematic review of how well an employee has performed during a specified period
360-degree feedback is a performance appraisal that comes from all levels around the employee (boss, coworkers, subordinates, and the employee himself or herself)
Chapter 8, Lesson 3

30. Review
The halo effect is a reviewer’s or boss’s tendency to assume that if an employee is above (or below) average in one area of performance, he or she is above (or below) average in all areas
If you’ve worked for an organization for a while and done a good job, you may be eligible for a promotion, or a new job at a higher level
A promotion may also increase your benefits, or compensation you receive from your employer in addition to your salary
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31. Review
A merit promotion is based on your performance in your current job
An ability promotion is based on your potential to do a new job, rather than how you did in your old one
To achieve your career goal, you must have a career-path strategy, or a plan for how you will make progress in your career
Ultimately, you want to become an authority in your field—someone to whom others look for answers and expertise
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32. Summary Seeking and receiving feedback in the workplace
Earning a promotion
Developing a career-path strategy
Chapter 8, Lesson 3

33. Next Today we’ve learned about seeking feedback and promotions
You are now prepared with new life skills and knowledge about career opportunities.
You’re ready to go out and make an impact in the world!
Chapter 8, Lesson 3
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