Speak Business English Like an American » LESSON 25 - Conducting a Performance Review

Conducting a Performance Review

It's annual performance review time. John meets with his boss to go over his performance for the past year, hear about his strengths and weaknesses, and find out about his salary increase.

Sara: During the first half of the year, your performance was not so hot. But then you did a 180 and you started doing great.

John: Really? I was that bad at the beginning of the year?

Sara: I think it was because you were new here, and it took you a while to get up to speed. The most important thing is that you're now a valuable member of the team.

John: That's nice to hear.

Sara: You've got a knack for sales. These past few months, I've also seen your communication skills improve. You're great at keeping people in the loop and making sure we all know what's going on with your accounts.

John: Thanks. I do pride myself on my communication skills.

Sara: Of course, you still have some opportunity areas that I'd like you to work on, starting with your analytical skills. Sometimes I can't make heads or tails of your sales forecasts.

John: How would you suggest I work on that?

Sara: I'm going to send you to a training class. Then we'll take it from there.

John: Great. I love attending classes!

Sara: We'll be raising your salary by 5 percent to $60,000. And, if you really go beyond the call of duty, you'll also receive a bonus at the end of the year.

Idioms
  • not so hot
    not very good
    EXAMPLE: This new advertising campaign is not so hot. I think we can do better next time.
  • (to) do a 180
    to turn around; to change position completely; to improve a lot
    EXAMPLE: The electronics company used to insist on manufacturing its products in the USA, but then they did a 180. Now all of their products are made in China.

    NOTE: This phrase refers to 180 degrees (half of the 360 degrees of a circle). If you turn 180 degrees, you've moved to the opposite direction.

  • (to) get up to speed
    to learn how to do a new job or a new task
    EXAMPLE: Leo had to start making sales calls his first week on the job, so he didn't have much time to get up to speed.
  • (to) have a knack for something
    to be skilled at something; to be naturally good at something (either in a positive or a negative way)
    EXAMPLE: I can't believe Joe told you that your tie looks old-fashioned. He has a knack for making people feel bad.
  • (to) keep someone in the loop
    to let someone know what's going on; to provide regular updates
    EXAMPLE: The finance manager doesn't need to be invited to every meeting, but be sure to keep her in the loop.
  • (to) pride oneself on something
    to be proud of; to recognize one's own skill in a certain area
    EXAMPLE: Naomi prides herself on her excellent people skills.
  • opportunity areas
    weaknesses; skills that need to be improved
    EXAMPLE: The human resource manager spent 45 minutes with Kristen, reviewing her opportunity areas.
  • (to) not be able to make heads or tails of
    to be unable to interpret
    EXAMPLE: Magna Corporation's new employee health plan is very confusing. The employees can't make heads or tails of it.
  • (to) take it from there
    to wait and see what else needs to be done; to take just one step and then decide what to do next
    EXAMPLE: Let's start by calculating how much it would cost to open an office in Budapest, and then we'll take it from there.
  • beyond the call of duty
    more than is expected or required
    EXAMPLE: Susan worked all day Sunday baking chocolate chip cookies for the office. That was beyond the call of duty.

    NOTE: You will also hear the variation: above and beyond the call of duty.

Practice The Idioms

Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:

  1. Susan said she'd be happy to bring chocolate chip cookies to the office. She prides herself on being a good baker.
    • a) She mistakenly thinks she can bake.
    • b) She's proud of her skills as a baker.
    • c) She bakes chocolate chip cookies every day.
  2. Al's attitude was bad last year, but this year he's done a 180.
    • a) developed an even worse attitude
    • b) dramatically improved his attitude
    • c) left the job
  3. The new government regulations are very complicated. We can't make heads or tails of them.
    • a) We think they're excellent.
    • b) We think they're very bad.
    • c) We can't understand them at all.
  4. Although you've improved your written communication skills over the past year, this is still an opportunity area for you.
    • a) an area where you need to improve further
    • b) an area where you've already made enough progress
    • c) an area where you'll find exciting opportunities
  5. If you need help with your new logo, ask Molly. She's got a knack for graphic design.
    • a) She used to be a graphic designer.
    • b) She knows several good graphic designers.
    • c) She's very good at graphic design.
  6. You spent 14 hours proofreading my report? That was beyond the call of duty.
    • a) That was more than I expected.
    • b) You shouldn't have bothered.
    • c) You were just doing your job.
  7. Please keep me in the loop regarding your vacation plans. I need to know when you're not going to be in the office.
    • a) keep me updated about
    • b) don't bother telling me about
    • c) let everybody in the office know about
  8. Juan's new job at the lab is very complicated. It may take him a few months to get up to speed.
    • a) feel like he's got too much work to do
    • b) feel comfortable doing the job
    • c) feel like the job is too difficult for him
Answer Key
Practice The Idioms
  1. b
  2. b
  3. c
  4. a
  5. c
  6. a
  7. a
  8. b
Answer Key
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