You are unclear if your work meets expectations
Example situation
After several assignments, including yesterday's customer update, you have received only “looks good” or quick approvals.
Our recommendation
Ask someone who saw or uses your recent work about a specific decision or result. Compare their feedback with the agreed standard and ask your manager to resolve conflicting expectations. Choose a change to practice or a new responsibility to develop.
If you are the team member
Ask about a specific decision: “In yesterday's customer update, was the decision I needed clear? Show me where you had to work it out.”
If they say it met the requirement, ask what made it useful and keep doing that. Ask which more demanding responsibility you could attempt with support.
Compare feedback from people who use the work. When they want different things, ask your manager which requirement applies, using their examples. Apply that requirement, then ask the person who expressed the concern to check the change.
If you are the manager
When you review the work: “The update gave me the decision, the recommendation, and the deadline. I could respond without asking for missing information.”
If you need more evidence to assess a skill, explain what you need to see and arrange a relevant assignment or review. Distinguish meeting the current role's requirements from preparing for a new responsibility.
Questions that come up
What if the feedback I get is vague?
“Which part of the explanation helped you decide?” If they need more evidence to judge, choose someone who saw the work or arrange a future observation.
Should I assess myself first?
Compare your work with the agreed criteria to prepare questions. Keep your assessment separate from others’ observations and investigate differences.
The responsibility behind this situation
New Employee Guide Ask how you are doingLast Updated: