The performance evaluation is a formality in most organizations. But the pressure that many people feel around review season can be anxiety-inducing.
I’ll let you in on an insider secret: Your supervisor is probably just as anxious about the process as you are.
There’s really no need to panic. Consider it a discussion, in which you get to showcase your accomplishments, get honest feedback on how you’re doing and gain valuable insight about how you can advance in the organization.
Here are a couple of quick tips to get the most out of your next performance evaluation and position yourself for growth in the year ahead.
Create a career profile
As part of your performance evaluation, your supervisor or HR team will assess the impact your capabilities, growth and qualifications have had in the organization, and determine how you can best be utilized moving forward.
A career profile ensures they have a well-rounded view of the value you bring to the table.
A well-organized career profile provides a snapshot of your work history, highlights your key strengths and abilities, and gives insight into your career trajectory. This includes:
A timeline of your most relevant accomplishments and experiences (including any courses, certifications, awards, outstanding performance reviews, letters of praise, etc) that have benefitted the team or organization.
Endorsements and recommendations from mentors and trusted players in the organization, whom you’ve worked with closely.
A personal mission statement of the outcomes you want to help the organization accomplish through your role.
A value statement about how you can leverage your strengths, unique skills and knowledge to solve a specific problem within the team or organization.
It’s important to keep your profile up-to-date and make it readily available to your supervisor.
Similar to a résumé, your profile should be brief and easily scannable. The content should be able to fit on one printed sheet of paper, front and back.
Develop talking points
When you go into your meeting, career profile in hand, you want to be able to discuss your abilities, strengths and accomplishments with confidence.
Having a few talking points on hand (bonus points if they’re memorized!) will help you articulate your value, stay on topic and be prepared to answer some of the common questions that come up—like what you’ve accomplished during the past appraisal period and what you hope to accomplish in the next.
Your performance evaluation is also a good time to speak up about any growth opportunities you’re interested in, like being assigned to a special project or taking professional development courses.
Developing talking points about the specific opportunities you want and how it will benefit them, as well as you, will help you to boldly make your ask.
Ready to ace your upcoming evaluation?
I’m offering Performance Review Prep sessions. Together we’ll create the perfect career profile, including a written personal mission and value statement. We’ll also develop talking points to confidently communicate your contributions and boldly ask for what you need. Learn more and sign up here.