A Job Well Done is its Own Reward, or Is It?

by | Feb 23, 2023 | Tutorial | 87 comments

I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of having a colleague who we can say, doesn’t quite measure up.  Perhaps they’re always late, or unreliable, or inconsistent in their work habits.

Perhaps their work isn’t up to par.  I’m sure we can tell stories about that colleague.  I’m sure we have.

But this blog entry isn’t about that colleague whose work ethic is lacking.  It’s about a good friend of mine and his work ethic which usually exceeds expectations.

In a previous blog entry, I mentioned good friend’s experience in the military with his supervisor, Sergeant M, and how he didn’t want my friend to help out another office with his (military-gained) experience.

Well, here’s another story where Sergeant M’s own virtues could be called into question.  For some background, check out the blog entry titled, “We’re All On the Same Side”.

Any job my good friend does is a reflection of his personal excellence and his military job was no different.  He learned the job and did it to the best of his ability.

The previous occupant of his job however, did not practice the excellence that he holds himself to, so his first year on the job was spent correcting the many mistakes that he found managing the base’s technical publications library.

It turns out that the job really wasn’t that difficult, although it was tedious at times.  But my good friend persevered.  Not only did he correct the mistakes he found, he also updated the base’s technical library procedural document, and created a library management handbook, copies of which were requested by other military library managers.  They even called him personally to ask for guidance.

The purpose of this blog entry however, isn’t to extol my good friend’s work ethic or achievements, but to relate what happened during his performance review.

After one year on the job, my good friend sat down with his supervisor, Sergeant M, for his performance review.

Sergeant M began with the review, “You have exceeded expectations.  You have performed this job better than anyone else who has ever held this position.”

Sergeant M than gave my good friend his performance review paperwork to sign.  The boxes checked all read, “Satisfactory.”  Above the “Satisfactory” box were two more boxes: “Excellent” and “Exceeds Expectations”.

My good friend asked his supervisor, Sergeant M, if his performance exceeded expectations, why didn’t Sergeant M check the boxes which read, “Exceeds Expectations”.

Sergeant M answered, “Because no one gets “Exceeds Expectations” on their first performance review.  He added that HR would kick back the performance review, because as he said, no one gets “Exceeds Expectations” on their first performance review.

In other words, my good friend’s supervisor did not have the backbone to stand up for the performance review that he signed or the subordinate who earned “Exceeds Expectations” on his performance review.

My good friend did not believe his supervisor’s explanation.  He knew that performance reviews were based on standard evaluation criteria and signed by a direct supervisor.  HR’s job is to process the performance review and not to tell a supervisor that an employee who exceeds expectations cannot receive a performance review that exceeds expectations.

As we would expect, my good friend was disappointed.  He had worked hard, not to please anyone, but because that’s what he does.  But only receiving a satisfactory review was personally insulting, especially because his supervisor had already acknowledged that his work was more than satisfactory.

Nothing kills an employee’s enthusiasm for the job when they feel personally insulted by lack of recognition for their work ethic.  And supervisors are personally responsible for that.

Supervisors: if you are going to sit in the big chair, you have to make big decisions.  Standing up for your employees often involves making big decisions.  Recognizing employees for the value they bring also goes with sitting in the big chair.

87 Comments

  1. bursa seo
    bursa seo on August 27, 2025 at 2:12 pm

    siteniz çok güzel devasa bilgilendirme var aradığım herşey burada mevcut çok teşekkür ederim

    Reply
  2. bursa seo
    bursa seo on August 25, 2025 at 1:02 pm

    siteniz çok güzel devasa bilgilendirme var aradığım herşey burada mevcut çok teşekkür ederim

    Reply
  4. bursa seo
    bursa seo on August 25, 2025 at 3:59 am

    siteniz harika başarılarınızın devamını dilerim aradığım herşey bu sitede

    Reply
  5. bursa seo
    bursa seo on August 24, 2025 at 11:50 am

    siteniz çok güzel devasa bilgilendirme var aradığım herşey burada mevcut çok teşekkür ederim

    Reply
  6. bursa seo
    bursa seo on August 24, 2025 at 9:30 am

    siteniz harika ben daha önce böyle güzel bir site görmedim makaleler çok açıklayıcı ve bilgilendirici çok site gezdim ve en sonunda sizin sitenizde buldum

    Reply
  8. zeus game
    zeus game on August 20, 2025 at 8:58 pm

    Zeus Game là lựa chọn hàng đầu của mình khi muốn trải nghiệm game thần thoại. Đồ họa đẹp, âm thanh sống động, và cảm giác chiến thắng cực đã! zeus game

    Reply
  65. Frank2640
    Frank2640 on July 18, 2025 at 2:31 am

    Unlock exclusive rewards with every referral—apply to our affiliate program now! https://shorturl.fm/O6NkV

    Reply
  66. Ebony2955
    Ebony2955 on July 17, 2025 at 3:28 pm

    Join our affiliate program today and start earning up to 30% commission—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/AcYdC

    Reply
  75. Demi1508
    Demi1508 on July 14, 2025 at 6:32 pm

    Become our partner and turn clicks into cash—join the affiliate program today! https://shorturl.fm/Bj1dB

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

If schools were permitted to have just one training, this is the one!

This training will help to raise test scores for your students, decrease discipline challenges, and improve classroom rapport. You will learn how to meet students where they are and lead them where they need to be, capture attention, and promote deeper learning.

Request Quote
Visit Store
Rick Teaches