How do you quantify and measure your skills and achievements in your performance reviews?

1 Identify your key performance indicators

Before you start writing your performance review, you need to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to your role, your department, and your organization. KPIs are measurable outcomes that reflect your contribution to the strategic objectives and priorities of your employer. They can be based on quality, quantity, efficiency, effectiveness, customer satisfaction, or other criteria. You can find your KPIs in your job description, your previous performance reviews, your project plans, or your manager's feedback.

2 Gather evidence and data

Once you have your KPIs, you need to gather evidence and data that support your claims and demonstrate your impact. Evidence and data can include metrics, numbers, percentages, ratings, testimonials, awards, recognitions, or other tangible results that show how you met or exceeded your targets, solved problems, improved processes, or added value. You can use tools such as spreadsheets, dashboards, reports, surveys, or portfolios to collect and organize your evidence and data.

3 Use the STAR method

The STAR method is a simple and effective way to structure your performance review statements and highlight your skills and achievements. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. For each KPI, you can use the STAR method to describe a specific situation or challenge that you faced, the task or goal that you had to accomplish, the action or steps that you took to address the situation or achieve the task, and the result or outcome that you delivered or influenced. The STAR method helps you to provide context, detail, and evidence for your performance review statements.

5 Seek feedback and input

Before you finalize your performance review, you should seek feedback and input from your manager, your peers, your customers, or other stakeholders who can provide you with a different perspective or insight on your performance. Feedback and input can help you to validate your skills and achievements, identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and discover new ways to enhance your performance. You can also use feedback and input to show your willingness to learn, improve, and collaborate.

6 Review and refine your performance review

The last step is to review and refine your performance review to make sure that it is clear, concise, and compelling. You should check your performance review for accuracy, completeness, relevance, and consistency. You should also use clear and positive language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and use action verbs and quantifiers to emphasize your skills and achievements. You should also proofread your performance review for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.