The annual performance review. That once-a-year summation of everything you’ve done. Perhaps you hate performance reviews, or perhaps you love them.
Perhaps you’ve hated them and loved them at different times or at different jobs in your life. It’s understandable. Love them or hate them, the most important thing you must do is prepare for them.
Many people make the mistake of thinking their performance review is nothing more than a barometer of their popularity with their boss, but it’s so much more. Your performance review is an opportunity to meet with your boss to discuss where you’ve been, where you’re going and, most importantly, where you want to go in the year ahead.
To help you make the most of your next performance review and turn it into something you’ll always look forward to, here are five tips to help you properly prepare.
Evaluate yourself honestly. Your review will include an appraisal of your past from your supervisor’s point of view, but you should look back on your year yourself beforehand. People naturally look back on their own work with a positive slant, so do your best to be objective and give fair consideration to any flaws. Thinking about your past year’s performance will enable you to talk about it intelligently and avoid some unexpected surprises.
Be receptive to criticism. This isn’t a sporting event, so stifle that voice in your head that starts chanting “Defense” the moment your boss outlines a growth area. On the other hand, if your review doesn’t include a single area where you could grow, then you’re overqualified for your work or your supervisor pays too little attention. Be receptive to growth opportunities and compare them to your own honest evaluation of the year. Afterward, you can work on developing these areas to make yourself a more valuable employee.
Celebrate your accomplishments. As you reviewed your previous year’s performance, you no doubt noticed several of your own accomplishments. Record these and be prepared to discuss them during your review. Your review is about these moments as well, after all, and this is a great time to discuss your victories in case your boss has forgotten or never knew about them.
Where have you grown? If you have been through a previous review at your workplace, review those old growth opportunities and be ready to show how you’ve responded positively to the feedback. Be honest about your success and outline future growth plans. This will show your supervisor that you’re committed to your work and developing your skills.
Where do you want to be? What’s your plan for the next year? Thinking about your future shows your supervisor that you are motivated to do more and grow. If you’re looking to be promoted, mention that. If you’d like to stay in the same role, however, let your supervisor know your plans for improving your performance. Then, once you’ve outlined where you want to be, don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor for ideas about how you can accomplish what you’ve outlined.
