My One-on-One Discussion with My Manager This Year

It was appraisal season, and one fine day, I received a one-on-one meeting invitation from my manager. A few of my teammates had already completed their discussions, so I casually asked how theirs went.

Apparently, our manager was asking everyone what new skills they had learned or what courses they had completed during the year. Those who had nothing to show were told, "We can't keep giving hikes based on your existing skills. You need to upskill yourself." That got me worried. I immediately opened Udemy and completed a few courses before my meeting. I didn't want to leave any stone unturned. This time, I was prepared! Finally, my turn came. The meeting started well. My manager appreciated my work, praised my contributions, and said he was happy with my performance. I was feeling pretty confident about getting a good hike. But then came the twist. "You've done a great job, but unfortunately, there won't be a hike for you this year." I was confused and asked why. His response? "You've completed all your sprint tasks, and I appreciate that. But that's what we're already paying you for. As a valuable employee, I expect you to contribute beyond sprint work. Come up with creative ideas, work on platform-level improvements, and do something outside your regular responsibilities." I was speechless. For the past few years, I'd been doing the same sprint-related work and receiving decent hikes. Suddenly, that wasn't enough anymore. And the funniest part? He never even asked about the courses I had completed! That's when I realized something about corporate appraisals. Sometimes, it feels like the hike is already decided, and the appraisal discussion is just about finding a reason to justify it. One employee doesn't get a hike because they haven't upskilled. Another doesn't get one because they haven't worked beyond their sprint tasks. Different employees. Different reasons. Same outcome. Anyway, let's see what new expectations come up next year. Stay tuned for the next episode of my appraisal story! 😄