Be Proactive
Most employees probably don't give any focused thought to the employee performance review process. The review is simply an annual ritual that arrives to soon every year and must be endured. This is wrong-headed thinking!
Like so many other important life events that are wrongly viewed, the annual performance appraisal should be embraced as a key opportunity rather than an experience akin to a root canal.
The first proactive step that you can take is adopting the mental attitude that you want to be viewed by your boss and others in the management hierarchy as an "indispensable employee". Being always conscious of this goal will positively impact every aspect of your performance.
Start With Your Manager
The performance appraisal is normally equally hated by both the giver and the receiver. You, on the other hand, are now changing your viewpoint to one of embracing the ritual. Next, you must help your boss see your review as more of a pleasure than a chore. The fact is that the easiest and most enjoyable appraisal for your boss to give is "an excellent one". You simply have to earn an excellent performance review.
To accomplish this, you should put yourself in your manager's shoes and understand the landscape from his or her viewpoint. What are the critical deliverables and outcomes that your bosses' superiors are expecting? What are the most critical paths towards achieving these objectives?
In an optimally functioning company environment, this type of information sharing among all members of a working group would be routine. If this is not the case in your group and your boss does not voluntarily disclose this kind of information, you should create discussion opportunities in which you can ask these questions. Once you know the key aspects of your manager's agenda, make sure that your own operational plans reflect your bosses' objectives. Making your boss look good will earn your excellent review.
Understand How The Review Process Works
Obtain copies of the appraisal forms and familiarize yourself with each review area and how it is scored. Make sure that you can identify and visualize the various types of decisions and job actions you can take to rank higher in the difficult performance areas. During formal or informal conversations with your manager throughout the year, include reports on your activities in performance-reviewed areas. This kind of "activities based focus" will also help you complete your employee self-appraisal if your company requires one.
If you begin preparing for the next performance review immediately after the completion of the last one, you will always be ahead of 95% of your fellow workers.
Maintain An Ongoing Record Of Your Accomplishments
Keep a log of you accomplishments and progress towards goals throughout the year (review period). Also keep in mind that you do not get excellent employee performance reviews and other perks just for doing your job. To receive kudos, top pay and promotions, you must excel and exceed routine performance. This log will also assist in preparing your self-appraisal forms.
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