Having performance-at-work issues? Consider writing your own performance improvement plan. Don't shy away from this tool that you may associate only with employees who have bigger performance problems. Employees who are proactive and take initiative when performance lags are an impressive and rare group. Join them with these steps: 1) Make a list of the deficiencies you believe need attention. 2) Ask yourself these diagnostic questions: a) Did you receive appropriate training?  b) Do you understand the job expectations? c) Are there communication, workplace, or personal roadblocks in your life impeding success? 3) Discuss your list with your boss. Ask for input. Be open, and lay it all out. 4) Now create the action plan. Make your objectives clear, specific, and measurable, and give your goals deadlines---for example, "Within 30 days, I will produce five product reports on time by each Friday at 10 a.m." Also, devise interventions to address your roadblocks. Consider needs, resources, time, training, or coaching to meet your goals. Request short meetings with your boss at regular intervals to ensure accountability.