Got a bad performance review? What to do next

Updated November 9, 2026

Don't react in the room. Ask for specific examples, take notes, and come back within a few days with a written plan to fix what's fair and correct what isn't. One bad review is recoverable when the next few months clearly show change.

What to do

1. Stay calm and ask for examples. Say: "Can you walk me through a specific case?" Write everything down. Don't defend yourself line by line yet.
2. Take a day to sort it. Split the feedback into fair, partly fair and wrong. Most reviews hold some truth, even when the tone stings. More in how to handle criticism at work.
3. Correct errors with facts. For what's wrong, send a short, calm email with dates and evidence. Ask that your response be added to your file if your company allows it.
4. Propose a plan. Book a follow-up and bring two or three concrete goals for the fair points, with how you'll measure each one.
5. Check in every month. Ask your manager for quick feedback monthly so the next review holds no surprises. Keep a log of your progress.

What to say

Send this to your manager a day or two after the review:

Thanks for the feedback yesterday. I've thought about it, and I agree I need to improve on [area], so here's my plan: [two concrete steps]. On [point], I see it differently, and I've attached the details. Could we meet in two weeks to agree on goals, then check in monthly so I know I'm on track?

Avoid

• Crying, arguing or quitting in the meeting: you can't take it back.
• Saying nothing at all: silence reads as agreement.
• Venting about your manager to teammates.

Questions