Your managers have finally pronounced the judgment and it's not so rosy. It's natural to feel devastated - especially because you worked yourself to the bone!

But Before you start resenting your job, playing the blame game, or feeling crushed, remember that bad reviews do sometimes happen even to good employees.

Even if you expected it, a bad performance appraisal is mortifying and morale-breaking, but remember,you must rise above this temporary set-back without damaging your confidence.

Now the big question: Is it true that once a bad rating, always a bad rating? "Not at all." Says Amrut Vagal, CEO of Clear Vision Management, a management consultancy, "In fact, it gives you scope for improvement because that nobody is perfect. A performance review is a comparative assessment over a certain time period. It means that during a specific time period, you did not have the chance, or could not, for some reason, perform well.

It is totally relative and you sure can tip the scales in your favour the next time."

The sooner you bounce back, the better you'll perform in the next appraisal cycle. Here's how you can redeem yourself:

Strategy #1: Be Objective

Begin by taking feedback professionally. Listening to criticism about yourself is hardest things in the world. However, exercise  restraint, even if you feel angry and frustrated. Keep your emotions under control and avoid becoming defensive. Amrut Vagal agrees, "Understand that a performance review is a tool used to facilitate communication and discussion between a manager and her reportees."

That said, it may not be a good idea to accept any feedback gamely either. If you honestly believe that you've unfairly received the shorter end of the stick, stand up for yourself-just do it objectively and display maturity.

Sanika Goyal,* an HR Manager had a bad experience in her first job. Her job profile involved managing training needs with two rather senior colleagues. Because she was new, she was singled out to do all the 'dirty work'. Finally she courteously refused  to do other people's work. During her performance appraisal, her boss gave her an unsatisfactory rating saying that she did not complete all the work assigned to her. Sanika disagreed, politely refused to sign the appraisal; and escalated the matter to the concerned department.