Had an Interesting Conversation With my Manager Today (performance evaluation)

88keys

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2012
1,854
12
81
I guess it went well because he really didn't have anything negative to say but I kept getting a 'read between the lines' sense from him and I really don't know what to make of this.

I'm new to this company and I've only worked there for 7 months now and this was a 6 month performance evaluation.

He had most of the same compliments that he had for the last evaluation which was 3 months ago but they were brief and he'd quickly move on to something else.

One of the things he talked about was for me to avoid going into tangents or getting to drawn into one thing or subject while losing focus on the big picture which can be a bad habit of mine.
But then he also said not to be arrogant or act like you know everything which doesn't describe me at all.
He also had gone back and fourth about 'Emotional Intelligence' how it can be used to better understand and influence those around you. He even recommended some reading material.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
I guess it went well because he really didn't have anything negative to say but I kept getting a 'read between the lines' sense from him and I really don't know what to make of this.

I'm new to this company and I've only worked there for 7 months now and this was a 6 month performance evaluation.

He had most of the same compliments that he had for the last evaluation which was 3 months ago but they were brief and he'd quickly move on to something else.

One of the things he talked about was for me to avoid going into tangents or getting to drawn into one thing or subject while losing focus on the big picture which can be a bad habit of mine.
But then he also said not to be arrogant or act like you know everything which doesn't describe me at all.
He also had gone back and fourth about 'Emotional Intelligence' how it can be used to better understand and influence those around you. He even recommended some reading material.

You should have done this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNuu9CpdjIo
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,338
136
Depending on the state, you should record your reviews.

Guess you didn't show him your keyboard skills....
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
So you are an asset to the company, but are seen as a know-it-all dork?

That's corporate speak. Translated, it says the OP is good at his job but a dick to his coworkers. The suggestion that he go take a look at some emotional intelligence books AND claims that the manager did not describe his behavior at all is further evidence that the OP is such an arrogant dick he doesn't even know he's being an arrogant dick.
 

core2slow

Senior member
Mar 7, 2008
774
20
81
Stop being a dick to your coworkers, OP. Nobody wants a recluse know-it-all in a company.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,338
136
That's corporate speak. Translated, it says the OP is good at his job but a dick to his coworkers. The suggestion that he go take a look at some emotional intelligence books AND claims that the manager did not describe his behavior at all is further evidence that the OP is such an arrogant dick he doesn't even know he's being an arrogant dick.
.........contemplation...........

Boss is a pussy.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,640
6,522
126
so glad i don't have annual reviews at my current company. those were the biggest wastes of times and such corporate bs. if i'm doing a good job or doing something wrong, tell me about it when it happens, not at a designated time a 11 months after it happens.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
so glad i don't have annual reviews at my current company. those were the biggest wastes of times and such corporate bs. if i'm doing a good job or doing something wrong, tell me about it when it happens, not at a designated time a 11 months after it happens.
How else would the corporation perpetuate the myth that they care about your development and effectiveness?
 

88keys

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2012
1,854
12
81
That's corporate speak. Translated, it says the OP is good at his job but a dick to his coworkers. The suggestion that he go take a look at some emotional intelligence books AND claims that the manager did not describe his behavior at all is further evidence that the OP is such an arrogant dick he doesn't even know he's being an arrogant dick.

He knows 88keys posts here. :)

Did you know that everyone on the internet is literally an expert on everything? True story :)

Lol, I really don't act in public like I do online. Infact I tend to think of my online persona as a 'release' so I won't act like an asshole in public.
Generally speaking though I do get along with my co-workers very well. I do however have to contend with some jealous individuals and their antics. I can let most things slide but I do have limits. And have I been a dick to them? Yes. The thing is that I have found that there are certain people who literally won't get the picture any other way. Any attempt to be the nice guy on your part will only be interpreted as a sign of submission which only guarantees that the drama will continue or escalate. I personally don't like drama in the workplace and I'll do whatever I need to do to avoid it. And although being an asshole shouldn't be the first course of action, it is at times the only way to put an end to it.

One thing that I have noticed is that assholes do tend to get ahead in the workplace and when I was younger I used to wonder if success turns regular people into assholes. Now I wonder if being an asshole is what makes people successful.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Ah, being an arrogant dick can be fun especially if your coworkers are worthless and your boss is too big of a pussy to tell them.
 

TheVrolok

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
24,254
4,092
136
Did you know that everyone on the internet is literally an expert on everything? True story :)

Lol, I really don't act in public like I do online. Infact I tend to think of my online persona as a 'release' so I won't act like an asshole in public.
Generally speaking though I do get along with my co-workers very well. I do however have to contend with some jealous individuals and their antics. I can let most things slide but I do have limits. And have I been a dick to them? Yes. The thing is that I have found that there are certain people who literally won't get the picture any other way. Any attempt to be the nice guy on your part will only be interpreted as a sign of submission which only guarantees that the drama will continue or escalate. I personally don't like drama in the workplace and I'll do whatever I need to do to avoid it. And although being an asshole shouldn't be the first course of action, it is at times the only way to put an end to it.

One thing that I have noticed is that assholes do tend to get ahead in the workplace and when I was younger I used to wonder if success turns regular people into assholes. Now I wonder if being an asshole is what makes people successful.

lol, you say you don't act like something, and then go on to describe yourself acting exactly so. Perhaps it would behoove you some more time and think about what he said rather than to dismiss it so readily.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Did you know that everyone on the internet is literally an expert on everything? True story :)

Lol, I really don't act in public like I do online. Infact I tend to think of my online persona as a 'release' so I won't act like an asshole in public.
Generally speaking though I do get along with my co-workers very well. I do however have to contend with some jealous individuals and their antics. I can let most things slide but I do have limits. And have I been a dick to them? Yes. The thing is that I have found that there are certain people who literally won't get the picture any other way. Any attempt to be the nice guy on your part will only be interpreted as a sign of submission which only guarantees that the drama will continue or escalate. I personally don't like drama in the workplace and I'll do whatever I need to do to avoid it. And although being an asshole shouldn't be the first course of action, it is at times the only way to put an end to it.

One thing that I have noticed is that assholes do tend to get ahead in the workplace and when I was younger I used to wonder if success turns regular people into assholes. Now I wonder if being an asshole is what makes people successful.

"I'm not a dick all the time. But I'm a dick sometimes.

My boss is still wrong about me. So are you ATOT. I'm not a dick. Until I am."
 

88keys

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2012
1,854
12
81
You might want to reexamine your definition of success.
Not a fan by any means, but he has done and continues to do well for himself.

lol, you say you don't act like something, and then go on to describe yourself acting exactly so. Perhaps it would behoove you some more time and think about what he said rather than to dismiss it so readily.

If you ahem... re read my post. (I know what you're trying to do). Being an asshole to someone isn't my first, or even my second choice of action when dealing with adversity. But you can't be a pushover and you do need to stand your ground. I've dealt with lots of different kinds of people and this strategy is something that I had to learn through years of trial and error and things have only gotten better for me since I figured this out. So if infact my manager was subtly criticizing me for the way I handled a few people (which he may or may not have heard about) then so be it. The only thing that I would have done differently is put them in their place sooner so as to spare myself from their crap.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
91
Emotional Intellegence - That is the title of a book that every superviser/manager is supposed to read where I work. Company of 10,000 or so. Let's just say that it is a laughable book. Sounds like your boss is book smart and street stupid.
 

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
10,575
292
126
When it comes to business relations it is not the same as outside business relations. Within business, especially if you have the same level of status as others, it is a matter of "cooperating". Some people may not like the concept of cooperating, but a boss has to deal with everybody, whether they are frivolous or excellent, and still make the business move forward in a productive manner. So, if an employee is insensitive or doesn't like putting up w/ bs or fools, it nonetheless impacts the entire group and therefor involves the boss, who above all wants -- and has a duty to ensure that -- the business moves forward in a productive manner. That can't happen if someone feels disrespected, even if they deserved it. Disrespecting others is perceived as an act of arrogance, and in fact it is arrogance.