Employment Security - Top Job Performance Review

Be a Valued Worker with Excellent Employee Performance Evaluations

Apr 9, 2009 Jerry Lopper

The best employment security may be an excellent performance review evaluation. Follow these tips for job security and become an indispensable employee.

Workers can protect their jobs in difficult economic times by striving for a top rated job performance review. Being an indispensable employee with an excellent job performance evaluation might provide employment security in the event of layoffs.

The valuable worker will start with a good understanding of the employer's performance review system. Most companies provide a sample in their employee handbook, or can provide a copy from Human Resources.

Job Performance Reviews

Armed with an understanding of the company's performance evaluation system, the valued worker will recognize that assigned responsibilities provide an opportunity to excel in a performance review.

A good worker will remember that a performance review is an opportunity to demonstrate and display excellence on the job. A top or excellent job evaluation will help to protect a worker from downsizing in tough economic times, while positioning the employee for promotion when business conditions improve.

Becoming an Indispensable Employee

The excellent employee recognizes that excelling on the job also makes the boss's job easier. When the boss succeeds the best employees are likely to benefit too. Remember that the boss also reports to someone and is being evaluated on performance and results.

Excellent workers understand the boss's goals and how their goals contribute to the boss's goal achievement. Make the boss look good by delivering excellent work results.

Most companies establish annual employee performance goals. These are the employee's primary requirements on the job. Delivering against written goals is a basic necessity for a top rated performance evaluation, but it may not be sufficient. The valuable employee will regard written goals as a starting point.

Qualities of Valued Employees

Most bosses look for these qualities in top rated employees:

Excellence: Being very good at their responsibilities. Not just good enough to get by, but very good. Excellence is the operable word. The best employees know their strengths and shape their work to take best advantage of their strengths.

Communication: Keeping the boss informed of progress, especially if there is a worsening situation and goals are in jeopardy. Informing the boss of any situations that might result in a complaint or demand that could come to a higher level. Most people, including bosses, don't like surprises, especially those that impact negatively on them.

Positive Attitude: "Yes" is a powerful word, conveying the valued worker's commitment. Saying yes need not mean agreeing to unreasonable schedules or commitments, nor routinely working extraordinary hours. Valuable employees learn to say yes to convey their willingness to help while quickly following it with an expression of what they will need to accommodate the request.

For example, "Yes, I see that project's importance to the company and I'll be happy to take it on. I will need considerable help from Joan in accounting, or some relief in the schedule for my other two projects."

Flexibility: Being resilient and able to adjust. Business needs change, sometimes very rapidly. Employees who are flexible and resilient make the boss's job easier. Indispensable employees learn to be the ones the boss goes to when there's a difficult problem or situation to resolve.

Tactfully Truthful: Bosses don't react very well to being told their ideas are insane. Team employees want good results for the work group and will find ways to tactfully suggest alternatives to the boss's suggestions.

Loyalty: Top rated employees are loyal to the organization, doing their best as part of the work team, even if secretly evaluating other opportunities.

Employment Security for Valued Employees

Though there are no guarantees that a high performance rating will protect the valuable worker's job, most organizations attempt to retain their highly rated employees. But most would agree that earning excellent performance review ratings makes sense, especially in difficult economic times.

The copyright of the article Employment Security - Top Job Performance Review in Personal Development is owned by Jerry Lopper. Permission to republish Employment Security - Top Job Performance Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.