Did receiving your report card at school fill you with dread wondering just what the teacher had said about you and then not knowing how your parents would react? And does the thought of your annual appraisal at work fill you with a similar sense of dread?
Recently I have assisted several clients prepare for their annual appraisal at work and it is interesting to see just how many people dread going through this process.
The thing is that just as with interviews, it is possible to take a lot of the anxiety out of the process by doing the right preparation. You can take more control over your annual appraisal and feel more confident about the whole process by following these 7 steps:
- Understand your company’s review process. In theory this should be a 2 way process to discuss your work over the last year and to set some goals for the following year. It is important that you have a clear understanding of your manager’s expectations of you.
- Take time to prepare. You need to be ready to discuss what you have achieved during the year and the value you have added to the business; this should be easy for you to do if you have kept track throughout the year, but if not then you need to set aside some time to give it due consideration. Don’t forget to note any challenges you faced too as it is important to mention these, how you handled them and if they raised any training needs. It is also worth speaking to some of your clients, both internal and external, and mentioning their feedback during your appraisal. Make a note of all the points that you want to raise with your boss to make sure that you do not forget anything during the meeting.
- If you have received any criticism during the year or at your appraisal, don’t go on the defensive. Instead take on board the criticism and look for ways to improve.
- Show your true worth to the company by reviewing what you achieved against the goals that you set for the year. Here it is important to show that you have gone beyond expectations rather than just completing your goals.
- If your previous appraisal had highlighted any weaknesses, show what you have done during the year to improve in these areas.
- Make a plan for the coming year, set yourself some goals and highlight some skills that you would like to develop.
- Think carefully about whether or not to ask for a pay rise. This will very much depend on how well you can prove that you exceeded expectations during the year.
It is important that you view your annual appraisal as an opportunity to learn. If you have received constructive criticism, you can incorporate it in your plan for the upcoming year by setting yourself learning goals and personal development opportunities.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
Confucius
© Anne Galloway
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Anne Galloway is the Careers Consultant for those who want to put the fun and passion back into their working week. Find out how Anne can help you along your path to career success at www.power-to-change.eu
