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I had a performance review once… The only thing that I decided to change was my attitude in the office: I started smiling more, wearing nicer clothes, cleaning

I had a performance review once… The only thing that I decided to change was my attitude in the office: I started smiling more, wearing nicer clothes, cleaning my desk, saluting my co-workers in the morning and wishing people a nice day in the elevators. All of a sudden my next performance review was labelled as “great” and I got a $5k bonus followed by $10k four months later. Nothing related to my workload changed. My theory is: either my co-workers, manager, human resources or all of them were concerned about my facial expressions and personality being always neutral, doing just what I was supposed to do in the office: work. My co-workers did not have anything special to say about me, nothing bad nor good, I talked with them just enough to do my job, almost never said anything about my life, family or the things I did during the weekend. Many people draw mental images of you using the information you give them about what you do in your life outside of work, so I assume they unconsciously translated the lack of personal details as “this person is not good for me” and somehow this ended up in the performance review that almost fired me. Years later, here I am, still playing the psychological game at work. It is tiring but it works.

brlewis 7y ago
Sounds like the process worked great. Your performance review led to you delivering more of what your company wanted to pay you for.
CPLX 7y ago
As a founder and manager I would gladly pay more for people who have a great attitude and improve the general vibe and morale of the team.
- brixon 7y ago
  Years ago I worked for a company with 2 hardware techs. One customer specifically asked to for the "likeable dumb-ass" to help them even though they knew the solution to their problem might take longer, the smarter tech was a loud know-it-all ass hole and no one liked working with him.
- HeroOfAges 7y ago
  Does this mean you would pay a premium and possibly promote a software developer that doesn't contribute to the product by writing code, but remembers people's birthdays and plans team lunches?
  - travisjungroth 7y ago
    “I’d pay more for a quarterback who creates a positive image for the team during press conferences.” “Does this mean you’d pay extra for a quarterback who never completes a pass, but is always chipper?” I’m pretty comfortable saying the answer is “no” here.
- reggieband 7y ago
  I was a TL on a team and one of my team members was an average contributor at best. However, he had passion and an infectious positive attitude. He made the team better through terrible puns and corny jokes. Don't get me wrong, I've seen employees incapable of their job try their best to get by with friendliness and good attitudes alone. I'm happy to see those employees go. Having a positive morale impact on the team isn't sufficient on it's own. But I definitely agree that having a few people on the team that can elevate morale while also contributing technically is worth more than many realize. People talk about how some people can make a house a home. Some people have a way of making a group of coworkers a team.
southphillyman 7y ago
Experienced this myself. Adjusted. Next performance review I was told I socialized too much :)
- Infinitesimus 7y ago
  Amen. I had one performance review where one person said I socialized too much and another said I didn't socialize enough. It was hilarious for both my manager and I
cactus2093 7y ago
> Nothing related to my workload changed The individual work is only part of the job, collaborating with the rest of the team and communicating with your peers and managers is a huge part of it as well. That's something that I wish I really learned/accepted earlier in my career too. Appearing more friendly makes it easier for the rest of your team to interact with you, but on top of that just the act of smiling can actually make you happier so the change may even be deeper than just an appearances thing. It sounds like you tricked yourself into genuinely improving as a software engineer :)
- nofunsir 7y ago
  ...improving as an "extrovert pleaser." Extroverts seem to think their personality is "a huge part of the job."
anon73044 7y ago
If you work on a team, then I'd say the change in attitude was more visible in the teams productivity that you own. If you work solo, then I'd guess your manager just liked to see you more outgoing, since it gives the appearance that you enjoy working there and aren't looking for a job somewhere else.
duxup 7y ago
It often feels silly to do so but if it in some ways making your fellow employees feel better about you, everyone, the place ... it can be worth it.
slumdev 7y ago
I work at a place where most people don't look at each other (much less smile) when they pass in the hallway, instead looking at the floor and flattening themselves against the wall as they pass. You're worth all the bonuses you get.

brlewis 7y ago

Sounds like the process worked great. Your performance review led to you delivering more of what your company wanted to pay you for.

CPLX 7y ago

As a founder and manager I would gladly pay more for people who have a great attitude and improve the general vibe and morale of the team.

brixon 7y ago
Years ago I worked for a company with 2 hardware techs. One customer specifically asked to for the "likeable dumb-ass" to help them even though they knew the solution to their problem might take longer, the smarter tech was a loud know-it-all ass hole and no one liked working with him.
HeroOfAges 7y ago
Does this mean you would pay a premium and possibly promote a software developer that doesn't contribute to the product by writing code, but remembers people's birthdays and plans team lunches?
- travisjungroth 7y ago
  “I’d pay more for a quarterback who creates a positive image for the team during press conferences.” “Does this mean you’d pay extra for a quarterback who never completes a pass, but is always chipper?” I’m pretty comfortable saying the answer is “no” here.
reggieband 7y ago
I was a TL on a team and one of my team members was an average contributor at best. However, he had passion and an infectious positive attitude. He made the team better through terrible puns and corny jokes. Don't get me wrong, I've seen employees incapable of their job try their best to get by with friendliness and good attitudes alone. I'm happy to see those employees go. Having a positive morale impact on the team isn't sufficient on it's own. But I definitely agree that having a few people on the team that can elevate morale while also contributing technically is worth more than many realize. People talk about how some people can make a house a home. Some people have a way of making a group of coworkers a team.

southphillyman 7y ago

Experienced this myself. Adjusted. Next performance review I was told I socialized too much :)

Infinitesimus 7y ago
Amen. I had one performance review where one person said I socialized too much and another said I didn't socialize enough. It was hilarious for both my manager and I

cactus2093 7y ago

> Nothing related to my workload changed The individual work is only part of the job, collaborating with the rest of the team and communicating with your peers and managers is a huge part of it as well. That's something that I wish I really learned/accepted earlier in my career too. Appearing more friendly makes it easier for the rest of your team to interact with you, but on top of that just the act of smiling can actually make you happier so the change may even be deeper than just an appearances thing. It sounds like you tricked yourself into genuinely improving as a software engineer :)

nofunsir 7y ago
...improving as an "extrovert pleaser." Extroverts seem to think their personality is "a huge part of the job."

anon73044 7y ago

If you work on a team, then I'd say the change in attitude was more visible in the teams productivity that you own. If you work solo, then I'd guess your manager just liked to see you more outgoing, since it gives the appearance that you enjoy working there and aren't looking for a job somewhere else.

duxup 7y ago

It often feels silly to do so but if it in some ways making your fellow employees feel better about you, everyone, the place ... it can be worth it.

slumdev 7y ago

I work at a place where most people don't look at each other (much less smile) when they pass in the hallway, instead looking at the floor and flattening themselves against the wall as they pass. You're worth all the bonuses you get.