Thank you all for keeping up with this thread . . . I appreciate your thoughts about looking for a new job, just seeing what's out there, because those are excellent points that you bring up. But I'm not going to leave my company. So I have to do what's best for me during my remaining years.
Last week I had to write up my own review. Kathy doesn't know us ("us" meaning Karla's other direct reports) so she wanted us to self-evaluate. Ugh! I'm not one to toot my own horn. I went into this dreading the task because I didn't want to sound like I'm bragging. I'm humble like that.
However (okay, I'll brag here
) going through my "Kudos" folder (I keep comments from customers, etc.) I realized that I received 8! bonus awards since last January. One was from an admin with the comment 'Thank you so much for completing this task in record time. You always come through with last minute notices. I appreciate everything you do for us.' ($25 bonus) but others came from directors and even the CEO of my division (much higher $$$ rewards). It's not the money, but the words on the awards is what touched me.
Reading through those comments on the awards . . . empowered me. (Thanks, Toots, for that word.
) The comments excited me, reminded me why I still work here . . . customer satisfaction. Comments were not only how I did a great job but stated facts on how I impacted the project.
I included 4 of the top quotes in my self-review along with a few statements of what I've accomplished (giving proof and using words from the next level job description
) along with what I'm looking forward to achieving in the next year.
So I think I'm on the right track . . . Keeping Kathy informed as to what I'm doing, allowing her to form her own opinion of me and, most important, satisfying my customers.
Just keep swimming . . .