me and performance reviews

 Performance reviews were never my strong suit. It was somewhat frustrating to get outstanding grades in academic environments but then get out in the real world and get very average to below average ratings. This continued my entire work life of over 40 years

So if you want to know how to get good reviews, go read a different blog. From my perception and watching other people there are two ways to get a good review and big raises and promotions.

 1. Get your boss to like you. Be very likeable. Not in a naughty way. If you know that your boss is really happy with you and you're getting average reviews, quit and go somewhere else. ( Notice: once you decide to leave, in this situation, don't believe anything your boss says, just leave.)

2. Be so technically good that they can't make it without you. If you absolutely know you're that person and you get an okay review here's what you could try. Go get another job and then turn in your two week notice. If your current job pleas with you to stay and offers to immediately give you a whole bunch more money then you can stay. Otherwise leave. In this situation they are going to resent you and will be looking for some way to either get rid of you or change the situation so that you're not such a critical resource. It kind of puts you at odds with the whole situation. Sometimes it's better just to go get another job anyway.

 Notice that getting another job was sort of a key component of me being able to get raises and make more money. There were a few times when I got raises by staying at a company and going through the review process but the raises are almost always bigger and your prospects are almost always better to leave whatever company you're at and find Greener pasture.