Your Ultimate Guide to Conquer Performance Reviews
Ready to ace your performance review and take your career to new heights? Read Part 1 of our series on optimising performance reviews!
Learn how to set crystal-clear objectives, gather compelling evidence, and confidently address challenges. Elevate your communication skills, review the agenda like a pro, and ask those meaningful questions that pave the way for growth. It's time to conquer your review and soar towards success.
1. Set clear objectives
Before the meeting, you should review your job description, your previous performance review, your current projects and achievements, and make a professional 6 -12 development plan. Identify what you want to accomplish in the meeting, such as getting recognition, clear feedback, discussing career opportunities and negotiating a raise,. Write down your objectives and prioritize them according to their importance.
2. Gather evidence & examples
To support your objectives and showcase your value, you should gather evidence and examples of your work . This can include data, metrics, testimonials, results , or portfolio items. Make sure you have specific examples that demonstrate your skills, contributions, and results. Organize your evidence and examples in a clear and concise format, such as a report, a presentation, or a portfolio.
3. Anticipate challenges and questions
To prepare for a constructive and positive dialogue, you should anticipate the potential challenges and questions that your manager might have. Think about the areas where you might have gaps, weaknesses, or different points of view , and how you can address them with honesty and confidence. Prepare responses to common questions, such as how you have handled feedback, how you have overcome obstacles, how you have collaborated with others, or how you have grown and learned.
4. Practice your communication skills
To ensure that you communicate effectively and professionally in the meeting, you should practice your communication skills beforehand. This can include rehearsing your key messages, practicing active listening, asking open-ended questions, giving and receiving feedback, expressing gratitude, and negotiating. You can practice with a colleague, a friend, or a mentor, and ask for feedback on your tone, body language, and clarity.
5. Review the agenda
To avoid any surprises or confusion, you should review the agenda of the meeting in advance. Confirm duration of the meeting, and make sure you have the necessary equipment, materials, and documents. Check if there are any pre-meeting tasks or forms to complete, such as self-assessments, surveys, or goals. Review the agenda and the expected outcomes of the meeting, and prepare any questions or comments you have.
6. Ask relevant and meaningful questions
To make the most of the performance review meeting, you should ask relevant and meaningful questions that help you understand your performance, your expectations, your feedback, and your development. For example, you could inquire about how your performance is measured and what criteria are used to determine success.
Additionally, you could ask about strengths and areas for improvement that have been observed in your work. Furthermore, questions related to collaboration and communication, goals and priorities for the team and organization in the next period, support for the team, opportunities and resources for professional development and career growth, skills and competencies that need to be improved, and next steps and actions after the meeting can all be beneficial.
Here’s what else to consider
Pat Yourself on the Back! Finally, give yourself some credit for making it to this big milestone. Sure, it happens every year, and you may not even receive anything special except for a simple “Great work” from your manager, but you’ve made it through what was probably a busy, exhausting, or even tumultuous period. Look back on it, pat yourself on the back for everything awesome you did, and know you’re going to kick even more butt after this review.
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