Kathryn McNeil

CORRECTING POOR PERFORMANCE

At one time or another, each of us has had a poor performance of some kind. It may have been a poor test result in school, a poor presentation at work, or a poor performance in an athletic event. Think of a poor performance event that you have experienced and work through the following three steps.

Step 1. Briefly describe the specific event in some detail. Include why you label it a poor performance (bad score? someone else’s evaluation?).

I had a really bad score on the first class (principal of econometrics) in the first test, which was a midterm. I label it as a poor performance because I put a lot of effort. I studied a lot for this class, and I spent most of the time just preparing.

Step 2. Analyze the Poor Performance

In that exam I had a B, however, comparing to the work and preparation that I did, I felt like I should get more than that. Also,

a. List all the possible contributing causes to the poor performance. Be specific, such as the room was too hot, you did not get enough sleep, you were not told how to perform the task, etc. You might ask other people for possible ideas, too.

1. _________________________

2. _________________________

3. _________________________

4. _________________________

5. _________________________

6. _________________________

7. _________________________

b. Is there a primary cause for the poor performance? What is it?

Step 3: Plan to Correct the Poor Performance

Develop a step-by-step plan of action that specifies what you can change or do differently to improve your performance the next time you have an opportunity. Include seeking help if it is needed. Once your plan is developed, look for an opportunity to execute it.

THE FRAZZLE FACTOR

Read each of the following statements and rate yourself on a scale of 0 to 3, giving the answer that best describes how you generally feel (3 points for always, 2 points for often, 1 point for sometimes, and 0 points for never). Answer as honestly as you can, and do not spend too much time on any one statement.

Am I Overstressed?

__3__ 1. I have to make important snap judgments and decisions.

__3__ 2. I am not consulted about what happens on my job or in my classes.

__2__ 3. I feel I am underpaid.

__1__ 4. I feel that no matter how hard I work, the system will mess it up.

__1__ 5. I do not get along with some of my coworkers or fellow students.

__1__ 6. I do not trust my superiors at work or my professors at school.

__3__ 7. The paperwork burden on my job or at school is getting to me.

__1__ 8. I feel people outside the job or the university does not respect what I do.