From: Amin, Maulin

Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 11:30 AM

To: [Lewis, Nancy] <nancy.lewis@officejob.ca>
Subject: Performance Feedback - Becky Greenwood
Dear Nancy,
You have put it justly that Becky is without any doubt an asset to our
organization. Having her as my assistant cuts a considerate amount of
burden off my shoulders, so, I am glad that I get to help her grow
professionally by assisting you appraise her efficiency. From reminding me of
all things that are due to having a cup of coffee ready for me when I get to
work, she does everything with gusto and thorough heed.
There have been occasions when she has had to work beyond her working
hours and she has done so without missing a beat. In fact, without any
disregard to quality, most of the times she finishes her work way before the
deadline. She is popular among her peers because of her affable nature.
Even during meetings, when it comes to engaging the clients in a
conversation to keep them interested in the project, she does not fail. She
loves meeting new people and I believe that she should be given a chance at
handling communications with the clients directly, without my supervision.
This would give her a chance at proving her worth to work independently on
an administrative level.
I have a strong confidence in the fact that even if her obligations to work are
increased, her performance would stay unfazed.
Regards,

Maulin Amin
Executive Embedded Systems Manager

Reflection
When it comes to being polite and courteous, we had better think twice,
thrice or may be numerous times. Words already spoken are well-nigh
impossible to take back. It is similar to trying to push the toothpaste back
into the tube. The situation stays the same when we post anything on the
Internet either in the form of a blog post or as an email. Even if we delete it,
there is always a backup copy on some server from where it can be
retrieved. So, as one of my professors suggested in the past, I always follow
the rule of Check-Check-Go.
Offhandedly, we hardly ever take the risk of criticising anyone even a little,
because we fear the soiling of the relationship. But, in formal situations, such
criticisms cannot be deferred as there is the involvement of the betterment
of the organisation. In past, I have experienced situations where I have had
to say no and it turned out to be taxing. But rather, it is extra grim to talk
about a person who is under the spotlight even when that person is not
present, because if my words are vague, my subjective argument might end
up reaching that person in the form that I did not present it in.
To better understand the setting, I did a small exercise where I wrote a short
story that had two round characters Becky and me. I read it somewhere
that before we talk about anyone it is better to do our homework so that we
do not end up presenting sullied facts that are swaying a little away from
reality. Also whenever I read, I try to understand the story from the
characters point of view rather than from the readers. So, writing the short
made the process less demanding as I at least knew the various facets of
Becky from a distance closer than from just the main character traits in the
scenario. I have also included the short at the end of this reflection because
it in itself reflects this assignment.

Short:
It's been a slow week and I am walking up to my desk. There are times
when I don't feel like going to work on a Friday, this was one of them. But,
there she was as always, smiling her bright sunny smile, waving at me
with a cup of Irish Latte in her other hand. Becky is the most amazing
partner one could ever have. She's right by your side when you need her.
She perks you up on the days you feel low.
"Hey Maw-leen!" she greets distinguishing the two syllables in my name,
as I walk up to her. She looks radiant as always in her pink floral print
tank-top. Her blonde, waist length locks fall in a wavy manner over to her
sides. She hands me my coffee as I sit down.
Youre a life saver, I confess, sitting down. She waves it off and pulls a
chair beside me. She begins rummaging through her bag and takes out a
folder. The warm and earthly smell of coffee pulls me towards it, so I press
the power button of my laptop and begin taking small sips of coffee. By
the time I look to my side, Becky has piled a huge pile of papers in front of
her. I dont even know the source of that many papers, but I'm pretty sure
that it's not that thin folder.
She's still beaming. "I'm done." she announces.
With? I say, raising my eyebrow.
With the Project Charter, the Scope Statement and the Work-breakdownstructure
Already?
I came to work early today, didnt have anything else to do, so
Soyou finished my share of work as well?
NO! she says rolling her eyes, Why would I do that, I did only those
parts that were assigned to me. You still need to add your signature on
every page to show your approval said she with a wink.
Oh. I nod, Alright. Youll have to sit tight until I finish reviewing-
She doesnt wait for me to finish the sentence, she turns in her chair and
begins dialing a number on the landline.
Hi Honey, she greets into the phone when I turn back to my laptop
screen.
***
The smell of Mac and Cheese is wafting through the cafeteria which is offputting when you have a bowl of salad in front of you. I am chewing those
tasteless vegetables while Becky and my other colleagues talk about the
last episode of Game of Thrones.
I think I have begun appreciating Cersei, Becky butts in when Raymond
is halfway describing a scene where this character called Cersei is
humiliated publicly.

But, shes EVIL! insists a girl whose name I forgot. All the heads begin
nodding approval.
Thats why I used the word appreciate says Becky, pressing a little on
the word appreciate.
Writing an antagonist is a complex process, she continues, its not as
straightforward as writing the lead. The villain needs to match the hero;
both the characters need to have a common balance. Apart from the
protagonist, the villain also needs to have a purpose. I have a friend who
writes and he once told me that if an author takes an hour to write the
character sketch of the protagonist then itd then him at least two or
three hours to work the perfect character sketch of the antagonist. Also-
Ahem
Everyone turns their head toward the sound of clearing of the throat. It is
our Manager, standing like a huge mammoth with his hands folded.
Thats interesting, he says in a cold voice, but, its way past your lunch
hour guys.
Everyone shuffles up from the seats and runs to their work desks after
apologising. When Becky begins talking, you are always pulled into that
conversation like iron dust would to a piece of magnet and this elongation
of lunch hour has happened in the past and would do so until Becky
remains to stay interesting.