I should have been rated higher

Someone used to tell me that “People judge you, you don’t judge yourself.”

What he was trying to help me understand was regardless of how I thought about how well or not well I have performed, I should be self aware of the perception of others to guide my next steps.

Likewise in the context of performance appraisal, it is how your reporting manager perceived your performance that will determine your rating.

If you had felt your performance should have been rated higher, firstly take a moment to reflect so that you can ready yourself mentally and emotionally to have an open and honest conversation with your reporting manager to understand the basis of your rating. This is the time to be receptive not defensive.

Secondly, work with your reporting manager respectfully around his or her expectations of the differences in performance for each rating grade. Establish what would be required to achieve a higher rating and get on the same page.

Thirdly, regularly check in with your reporting manager how you are tracking. It’s about taking responsibility to demonstrate how you have grown and self awareness of where you are at against expectations and agility to pivot along the way.

Be in the driver seat of your performance and manage upward your key stakeholders

N.B. The caveat to this is you are in an environment of toxic culture or poor leadership, seeking greener pastures may be more appropriate.