You have a performance evaluation coming up. How can you ensure it goes well?

4 Practice your presentation

Once you have reviewed your past performance, set your future goals, and prepared your questions and feedback, you should practice your presentation. This will help you polish your delivery, anticipate potential questions or objections, and boost your confidence. You can practice by yourself, with a colleague, or with a friend. Use a clear, concise, and positive language. Avoid jargon, slang, or filler words. Emphasize your strengths, achievements, and value proposition. This will help you impress your manager and convey your message effectively.

5 Be open and receptive

During your performance evaluation, be open and receptive to the feedback and suggestions that you receive from your manager. Listen actively and attentively, and show that you understand and appreciate their perspective. Avoid being defensive, argumentative, or emotional. Instead, acknowledge your areas of improvement, accept responsibility for your mistakes, and express your willingness to learn and grow. If you disagree with something, explain your point of view calmly and respectfully. This will help you establish trust and rapport with your manager and improve your relationship.

6 Follow up and take action

After your performance evaluation, follow up and take action on the outcomes and agreements that you reached with your manager. Send a thank-you note, summarize the main points, and confirm your next steps. Review your feedback and goals, and create an action plan to implement them. Track your progress and achievements, and communicate them regularly to your manager. Seek feedback and support as needed, and celebrate your successes. This will help you demonstrate your accountability, professionalism, and growth.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?