I came across my last appraisal from IBM, from 10 years ago, which I formatted as a poem. Having received the highest performance rating for 4 years on the trot, I came up against the quota system and an idiot for a manager (in my humble opinion!). I left and went into childcare, the rest is history! (IBM’s loss was Paint Pot’s gain – again, in my humble opinion!)
A lack of hard-edged leadership
and assertiveness,
out of the box thinking
and active driving forward,
coupled with a failure to identify
and articulate a clear high level
vision for how this could work –
all of which means, I’m afraid,
that I have rated you
one of the lowest performers.
I understand that you are clearly
disappointed by this rating.
There are no concerns whatsoever
over your trustworthiness
nor your technical ability.
I do hope given time that you will feel able to reflect
constructively on this feedback
as it does provide you with an opportunity
to learn and grow.