My yearly appraisal said I need to improve – I’m feeling unmotivated and undervalued, please help!

APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.

Here she gives advice to a reader on feeling unmotivated and undervalued after a yearly appraisal.

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Q) I recently had my yearly appraisal and was told that, although I’m excelling in some areas, I’m underperforming in others, so my overall grading had been marked as needing improvement.

I’m of course disappointed, but also frustrated because at no point during the last 12 months was I told I was heading towards this result in my appraisal, and so I wasn’t given the chance to improve.

This isn’t fair, and I’m now feeling unmotivated and undervalued.

Do you have any advice?

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Olivia, via email

A) Receiving feedback, especially when it’s critical, can be tough.

But it’s important to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and approach the situation with resilience.

Take on board all the feedback and use it as an opportunity for growth.

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When speaking with your manager, it’s imperative to explain how timely feedback would have benefited you in your role, and that having regular meetings would help ensure that you’re continually progressing.

Take control and put quarterly performance reviews into your manager’s calendar.

Emphasise how this will not only help your performance, but will also contribute to the overall success of the team.

It’s also important not to be over-critical of yourself.

Avoid fixating solely on the negative feedback and take time to acknowledge and celebrate your strengths.

Recognising your success can help boost your confidence and keep you motivated to continue improving.

If you are still struggling to move forward, consider finding a professional mentor, who can help you build on the skills you currently have.

Setbacks are part of personal growth, and each challenge brings you closer to your potential.

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If you approach the conversation with professionalism and honesty, you can hopefully maintain a good relationship with your manager.

•  Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.