Preparing for Performance Reviews
As the seasons change and we enter into the holiday season, we also enter into end-of-year performance reviews and conversations.
For some, performance reviews bring with them stress and anxiety. They can feel daunting and all-encompassing. Boiling an employee’s full-year performance into a single conversation? Did I meet my goals? Did the company meet its goals? Will I qualify for my bonus (if eligible)? Others look forward to performance reviews. Finally, a chance to highlight their achievements over the last 12 months and ask questions of their boss.
Regardless of which side of the fence you land on, these conversations don’t need to be one-sided. In fact, they SHOULDN’T be one-sided. They also shouldn’t only focus on the past year. They should have a forward-looking element as well. Performance reviews are a great opportunity to talk with your boss and have open discussions. It is a great time to look ahead to next year and identify what you want to accomplish.
One of the best things you can do prior to performance reviews is to PREPARE. This will help ensure you discuss the things that are important to you and set yourself up for success during and after the meeting. Here are some ways to prepare for your annual performance review.
Reflect on your performance and list out your accomplishments
It’s the name of the game after all. You should prepare for your review by reviewing your performance. Go through any goals that were set at the beginning of the year and honestly assess whether these were met. If goals were not accomplished, detail why. Did anything else get accomplished instead? You can check some modesty at the door for review. Highlight your achievements and the way you made an impact. Including numbers is great (projects delivered, cost savings, etc) , but don’t forget soft skills as well (recognition from leadership, relationships made, etc).
Clarify your goals
This is a great time to discuss what you desire for yourself. Take some time to think about what you want out of your career. Do you like the career path you are on? Is there a good growth opportunity? Do you want to pivot to a new role or department? Try to think 5+ years down the line. This may be a difficult exercise but it can help to have a long-term plan that you are working toward.
Keep your expectations realistic
Odds are any compensation changes have already been decided and approved by finance BEFORE your manager walks into your review. So it's unlikely that your review will result in a day of pay raise. But these conversations can set the stage for you to arrive at your ideal compensation.
Prepare questions you want answers to
By prepping the questions you have in advance, it can help ensure that you actually ask and receive answers to these questions. You want to leave this conversation feeling really good and clear on where you stand and what the expectations are moving forward. Outline expectations will help down the road when it comes to pay raises. Ask your manager things like; what are the company’s goals this year? Team goals? What goals do you have for me? Where are the biggest areas I could improve? What can I get to my goal of (fill in the blank)? These questions will help you set yourself up for maximum success in the new year.
Be ready to receive and respond to feedback
You should walk into your review expecting to get some feedback. After all, they are an evaluation so you should expect constructive criticism. Feedback is a great way to grow and improve but that doesn’t mean it’s not uncomfortable. Mentally prepare yourself to receive feedback and stay open-minded. Being able to respond calmly and professionally to feedback will aid in your professional development, your relationship with your manager, and also your continued time in your existing role.
Schedule a session with your coach
Tackle all 5 steps above in preparing for your review in a session with a coach. Coaches are a great resource to lean on as you enter into performance reviews. Vet your questions and concerns with your coach beforehand. Talk through what it is you want to leave the reviews have accomplished. Coaches can even help you think through questions or goals you are struggling to articulate. Consider practicing your review with your coach, the coach can pretend to be your manager so you can get a feel for the review.
Being prepared can help take a lot of the stress and nervousness out of the performance review. Take a deep breath and be confident. You got this!
Celebrating your success,
Krista Ryan