Please tell me about a time when you disagreed with your performance rating.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess how you handle disagreement and conflict, particularly in a professional setting. It seeks to understand your ability to evaluate your own performance, communicate effectively, and seek resolution when you believe you have been unfairly assessed. Interviewers are looking for candidates who can handle such situations with professionalism and maturity. It's crucial to demonstrate self-awareness, the ability to gather evidence to support your viewpoint, and effective communication skills.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, during the annual performance review, I received a rating that was lower than I expected. This was surprising to me, as I had successfully completed several key projects ahead of schedule and under budget.

Task: I needed to address this discrepancy with my manager to understand the reasoning behind the rating and to discuss my achievements and contributions over the past year.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss my performance review. Before the meeting, I prepared by gathering documentation of my completed projects, including timelines, budget reports, and positive feedback from clients and team members. During the meeting, I calmly expressed my perspective and presented the evidence of my achievements. I asked for specific examples where my performance might have fallen short, as well as feedback on how I could improve.

Result: My manager appreciated my proactive approach and the evidence I provided. After reviewing the documentation and considering my points, they agreed that my rating should be adjusted to reflect my contributions more accurately. Additionally, the conversation opened up a dialogue about ongoing performance expectations and set a foundation for more regular feedback, which helped me continue to grow in my role.