Performance Review Preparation
If you want more income you can either get a new job or improve the one you currently have. The perfect time to ask for a raise is during your performance review. Start on the front foot by doing a little performance review preparation weekly.
A Performance Review should be based on how you undertake tasks you agreed to in your Performance Agreement or if you don’t have one, your job description. Your review is an opportunity for you to prove you are an asset to the company and confirm with your manager that you are tracking well.
Preparing for a performance review can be terrifying or at the very least, uncomfortable.
- How do you remember what you did in the past year when all you can think about is the long list of ‘things to do’ for the coming weeks?
- When you do have the time to reflect on the past year – all the things that went wrong come rushing to the front of your mind and you have to relive nightmare situations again!
My Weekly Reflection template tool
If you spend 10 – 15 minutes each Friday afternoon to write a short summary on how the week went by the time your review comes around you will have a clear indication of where you stand.
The reflection tool should be short and sharp and, for your eyes only. The goal is to set you up for success and help you to capture what you did well and what you need to work on.
Download now – Reflections – My Week
Firstly, note down your main priority for this week and next week
Try not to be too generic here, if you have a project you are working on break it down into smaller achievable tasks so you are not overwhelmed. For example, if you are preparing for the next board meeting rather than writing ‘Board meeting prep’ – be specific: ‘order catering for AGM’ or ‘Provide draft Schedule of Meetings to CEO’.
Of course, you will have a number of other tasks to complete over the week but select one or two challenging, achievable tasks. If you notice the same tasks are being repeated week after week. Reflect on why this is happening and speak to a colleague or your manager about how you can get the tasks moving. DO NOT wait until your review to talk about an issue with your manager.
Rate your week
Not every week is stellar and not every week is a train wreck. Note the overall mood of your week, if you find you are in the orange and red categories 3 out of 4 weeks a month – something needs to change. Potentially your attitude or your job.
What went well
Write down any achievements you made this week. Note how you made a positive contribution. This is important: you want to be able to provide examples of your successes in your performance review.
What I learned
This could be anything from engaging with other departments and finding out how they function or observing a colleague in a meeting and taking note of how they conduct themselves. Don’t avoid this you can never stop learning.
Opportunities for improvement
Nobody knows everything. Actively seeking to better yourself or your work practices is empowering. You might identify a course you would like to attend or look into a product which could help your organisation streamline processes. Continuous improvement is always appreciated.
Do take note that when you are on the corporate dollar you should be looking at how you can benefit the company not just how you can benefit you.
What I would do differently
Maybe you turned up to a meeting unprepared, let your emotions show in a non constructive way or got home late and missed dinner with a loved one. Or you may have had an awesome week and that’s great!
Next Week
Make an effort to keep in contact with people whose advice you hold in high regard and try to make a connection with someone new. You don’t need to spend every day socialising, two or three lunches / coffees with colleagues throughout the week is healthy for the mind. Be genuine in your networking.
Next Steps
When it comes to Performance Review time you don’t need to rely on your memory alone. You can confidently report on what you should:
- stop doing – things you would do differently;
- start doing – opportunities for improvement; and
- keep doing – what’s going well.
Also, reach out to your network for feedback.
Do this now
Block 2.00pm – 2.15pm each Friday in your diary for the next two months, download the My Week Reflection template and add it to your calendar appointment. When the reminder pops up fill it in, save it. Done.
