Performance Appraisals – Here’s how to win

It’s that time of year when your performance at work is being appraised.

Your organisation may have some kind of formal appraisal structure, some boxes to tick, or some numbers to score. I’m not a huge fan of these kinds of performance reviews, but if it needs to be done, then do it well.

Alternatively (or in addition), you can generate something really meaningful from this process, for both yourself and your manager, by putting in some extra effort:

Take 30 minutes to reflect on your year, noting your achievements (the successful projects, the skills you’ve gained, the new relationships formed).
Take 15 minutes to recall your disappointments (the things that didn’t work out, that you wished you’d handled differently, or the mistakes you made).
Think about the new year and note 3 things you’d like to learn, achieve or be part of in 2019.

Write these down, and be ready to discuss these with your manager. Not only will you have gained some valuable personal reflection time, but I can guarantee you that whomever you share these thoughts with will be super-impressed.

– Debbie Goodman-Bhyat, Co-Founder of Virtual Coaching Partners