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"  &amp;quot;I just received my annual review, and it was a lot more critical than I anticipated. I really want to get promoted, so how should I react? Is there a way for me to prove that the review was &amp;#039;wrong&amp;#039;?&amp;quot;  No one likes to deliver bad news, and a poor review is as awkward for your boss as it is for you. It&amp;#039;s normal to feel threatened, but it&amp;#039;s not smart to show it. Just breathe deep and remember that it&amp;#039;s work; you can&amp;#039;t take it personally.   If you want to change your image, your first plan of action is to take care of your supervisor. Ask her for a follow-up meeting two or three weeks later when enough time has passed that you&amp;#039;ve got your emotions in check, but the review is still fresh in your mind and hers so you can address the specific problems and share how you plan to fix them. Do not try to argue that she was wrong in her assessment, as this will only put her on the defensive and drive a wedge between you. Instead, stay fixed on the long-term goal of becoming a better employee.   If her criticisms are unclear, politely ask for examples that could prove helpful. By handling this meeting in a mature and professional way, you&amp;#039;ll leave your boss feeling comfortable that she can be frank with you. She&amp;#039;ll also feel that she&amp;#039;s been helpful to you, which is what every boss likes to be.   End the meeting on a positive note. Thank your boss for her suggestions and her time, and assure her you&amp;#039;ll make your best effort to improve. Sweeten the good-bye with, &amp;quot;Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my performance or contribute to the team?&amp;quot; and let her know you&amp;#039;d like to check in with her about your progress well before your next review ideally in six months. Then be sure to do it! Showing her you&amp;#039;re serious about doing better is what will put you on the path to your next promotion.   BARBARA CORCORAN  started a small New York City real estate office that grew into the Corcoran Group, a $5 billion business. She&amp;#039;s also the coauthor of the best-selling book If You Don&amp;#039;t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails and the real estate contributor to NBC&amp;#039;s Today.   Have a question for Barbara? E-mail her at worklife@redbookmag.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/life/money-career/advice/a3476/free-career-advice-annual-review/>