Performance Review

I finally had my performance review with Kate this week. It was supposed to be given over two

months ago, but Kate had one excuse after the other to delay both my review and bonus! Audrey, the CEO, had called me out in several meetings, praising my work. This did not go unnoticed by Kate, which unfortunately caused her to become even more vindictive in her need to flex her power. Our business at Mosaic was off the charts, especially the woven tops, dresses, and Resort line, which are my categories to design. While Kate was too smart to cut me down openly, she still found a way to get her digs in.

When I entered her office for my review, Kate sat behind her desk, with a tight-lipped smile.

“Come in, Olivia,” she said, her tone friendly but with an edge of forced cheerfulness.

Kate opened my file and began, “Well, Olivia, I have to say, your performance this year has been quite impressive and your attention to detail shows. Your creativity is certainly something to admire. You have a knack for thinking outside the box, which is refreshing.”

This was going much better than I thought it would.

“However,” she continued, her tone shifting, “there are a few areas we need to discuss.” She paused, seeming to relish the moment. “While your creativity is commendable, sometimes your designs can be a bit too... unconventional. Remember, we have brand guidelines for a reason. We need to maintain a consistent image.”

Spoke too soon. There was the dig.

"Also, another point I want to bring up is your approach to teamwork. While you do work well

independently, I’ve noticed you often prefer to handle things on your own rather than collaborating with the team. This can come across as a bit... isolating. We value a team player here, someone who can blend seamlessly into the group dynamic.”

"And lastly,” Kate said, leaning back in her chair, “while your productivity is high, I’ve noticed you sometimes spend too much time perfecting the details. We all want our work to be perfect, but we also have deadlines to meet. Efficiency is key in our fast-paced environment. You need to improve your time management."

“Overall, your work is very good, but there’s always room for improvement. Keep these points in mind moving forward.”

“Thank you, Kate. I appreciate the feedback and will certainly work on these areas,” I said, forcing a smile.

As I left her office, my mind replayed her feedback. Yes, I had spent time perfecting the details of my work, yet she conveniently neglected to mention that this was all after office hours and that I never missed a deadline. And the reason that our team is not collaborative is because Kate pits people against one another with her narcissistic tactics. All the positive feedback in my review had been overshadowed by points of criticism. It was clear that no matter how well I performed, Kate would always find a way to undermine me and that I would never see that promotion to Director if she continued to be my boss.

Despite that, I am resolved to stay true to my vision and know that, in the end, my talent and dedication will speak for themselves, regardless of Kate’s veiled attempts to bring me down.

Until next time,

❤️ Olivia

If you haven't already met Kate (which may be a good thing 😅), read about her in Chapter 3 now!