Dear Rachel,
I just got burned with a bad performance review, and I have to admit I didn't see it coming. My question: What can I do about getting it changed, or at least toned down? Sign me-- Hurting in LA.

Dear Hurting,
You don't say so but your mind must have been elsewhere in recent months not to see the bad review coming. Not to sound too school-marmish here, but getting a bad review is bad enough. Not seeing it coming makes it all that much worse. One has to wonder what else you are not noticing at work.

Now I'll stop being snippy and offer some helpful advice.

You could go to battle to see if you can get the review at least toned down, but frankly I wouldn't bother. Chances are you'll just irritate the powers that be even more, and the prospects of any success would seem slim in your case. Where reviews are generally positive, supervisors may be inclined to tone down one or two less positive observations. But that's not going to be the case where the person is slammed, as you were.

Here’s my advice. Get contrite real fast and tell management you accept their findings, as painful as they are, and that you intend to work on doing a better job.

Go over the criticisms and evaluate just how fair they are. As much as it may hurt, they're probably on target, if perhaps not worded in terms pleasing to you.

Plot out how you are going to change your work habits, and then set about to do so. If you are late a couple days a week, start showing up early, and keep at it. If the work you turn in is sloppy, in the minds of your supervisors, make sure you clean it up before turning it in going forward.

The point here is to set about making very specific changes in response to the very specific criticism in the review.

That has more impact than, say, trying to improve your attitude toward your job. How does one do that? The best way to do that is to correct the very specific shortcomings in your work. That will show that your attitude is changing better than, say, making nice chitchat in the elevator.

But before doing any of this make a point of meeting with your immediate supervisor and explaining just how you intend to improve your performance. Be very specific, and tell your boss you want to be held accountable for the promises you're making.

Now let's look forward a year. You've delivered on all you said you were going to do. Go to your supervisor and lay out all the good things you've done and how you've lived up to your promises.

Trust me, you'll get the review that you want and deserve. And you'll know it's coming.