1
When your manager—who hasn’t spoken to you all year—opens the conversation by asking you how you are doing.
2
When they kick off the conversation asking about what you’ve accomplished since your last review. (But you’ve forgotten everything that happened before yesterday).
3
When they ask you to talk about your weaknesses and indicate that they have (critical) feedback for you.
4
When they ask you about your stretch goal and you are hearing those words for the first time in life.
5
When they finally get to praising you for being a valuable asset to the organisation.
6
When they say they really want to know how the organisation can support your growth.
7
But then they tell you that they don’t quite agree with your suggestion that a pay raise is the best form of support.
8
And now is the time for your manager’s yearly confession that while they appreciate you, they don’t have the funds to actually pay you better.
9
However, however, they see you in a leadership role in the future…and then there will be money.