Ace Your Annual Review

Note from Yann: ?? Hey there, I’m Yann A?tBachir ! Each week, I share practical tips to help you level up your career.

This is the 24th article in our series, and while it arrives a bit late, it's perfectly timed to help you prepare for your end-of-year review.

Want that raise or promotion? The key is preparation.

Start now—ideally at least two months before your review—to give yourself enough time.

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Q4 is here, and it's time for your annual performance review.

Let's face it: performance reviews aren't anyone's favorite task. But they're crucial for your career.

These reviews significantly impact your growth, compensation, and career advancement.

A Gallup study shows only 26% of employees strongly agree that reviews are accurate, and only 29% feel they're fair.

The biggest difference? It's between those who coast this period and those who proactively prepare.

Your review isn't just about one day—it's about showcasing your year-round efforts and setting future goals.

A successful review can open doors to new projects, promotions, and career opportunities.

But great reviews don't happen by chance. They require effort and preparation.

Ready to turn your review into a career-boosting opportunity?

Let's dive in and set you up for success.

?? Your Manager: Your Biggest Ally in the Review Game

First things first—your manager's got your back, but here's the kicker: they're human too.

They've got a ton on their plate, juggling multiple team members, projects, and their own targets.

This means they might not remember every awesome line of code you've written or every project you've saved from the brink of disaster.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and trust me, you want to), is to make it absolutely impossible for them to forget your contributions.

Think of yourself as the marketer of your own career—your manager is your target audience, and you're selling your incredible year of achievements.

Pro Tip: Keep your manager in the loop year-round, not just when review time rolls around.

Use those one-on-ones to showcase your wins, big and small.

Did you optimize that sluggish database query? Mention it.

Squashed a particularly nasty bug? Let them know.

This consistent communication will make review time a breeze, as your manager will already have a highlight reel of your achievements playing in their mind.

?? Know the Game Plan: Understanding Expectations

Before you start your victory lap, make sure you know what success looks like in your role.

Dig up those goals from last year like you're excavating ancient tech artifacts.

Three documents to start with: last year's review, Job description and expectations, the list of individual and team goals.

What did your boss want you to crush?

Was it improving code efficiency, leading more team meetings, or maybe diving into a new programming language?

Understanding the expectations is half the battle in acing your review.

It's not just about your job description—it's about grasping what moves the needle for your team and company.

This insight will help you tie your achievements back to the bigger picture, showing how your work impacts the company's success.

Remember, in the tech world, it's not just about writing code—it's about solving problems and driving innovation.

Pro Tip: If you're aiming for a promotion, what matters is NOT the expectations of your current level, but the expectations of the level you want to reach.

Understand these new expectations clearly and work towards them.

?? Show Your Receipts: Documenting Your Wins

Now it's time to gather concrete evidence of your awesomeness.

Think of this as building a case file for your tech superhero alter ego.

Emails, Slack messages, Git commits, Wiki Documentation, Jira discussions project updates—if it shows you killing it, save it.

Did you lead a successful migration to a new cloud platform?

Document the before and after metrics.

Implemented a new feature that users are raving about?

Screenshot those glowing reviews.

Don't just say you improved something—show it with cold, hard data.

"I reduced API response times by 40% from 125ms to 75ms" sounds way more impressive than "I improved the API response time."

Numbers are your friends here—they provide undeniable proof of your impact.

??? Get Your Manager Onboard: The Pre-Review Strategy Session

Set up a pre-review chat with your boss—think of it as a strategy session for your career.

This is your chance to make sure you're both on the same page before the big day.

Show them what you've accomplished and how you've grown since your last review.

If you've taken on new responsibilities or learned new skills, highlight these achievements.

This meeting is also a great opportunity to get a pulse check on your performance.

Ask for feedback on areas where you might need to focus before the official review.

This proactive approach shows initiative and gives you time to address any concerns.

Remember, your manager wants you to succeed—give them the tools they need to advocate for you effectively.

?? Gather Intel from the Team: The Power of Peer Feedback

In every organization, teamwork makes the dream work, and your colleagues' opinions carry weight.

Reach out to the people you've worked closely with—fellow developers, project managers, or even folks from other departments you've collaborated with.

Remind them of your contributions to shared projects and ask for specific feedback. For example, you could say: "Hi Sam, could you provide some input on my work during the data migration project? Specifically, I'd appreciate feedback on how my technical contributions supported the overall success of the project."

Did your front-end wizardry make their lives easier?

Did your data analysis uncover key insights for the marketing team?

The peer, colleague, and stakeholder inputs carry high weight in the 360 review—almost like a recommendation letter.

Engaging them early can help them refresh their memory on selected areas. It will reduce their stress of the blank page while writing their input in the 360 review.

Plus, it shows you're a team player who values collaboration—a huge plus in any tech environment.

?? Highlight Your Growth: From Good to Great

Show how you've levelled up since last year—this is your growth story.

This is how you use last year's review. You can also add feedback that you received over the year.

For example, if your manager suggested improving your presentation skills, describe how you tackled that goal: "Last year, I was advised to work on my presentation skills. To improve, I joined a public speaking workshop and volunteered to lead our weekly team meetings. As a result, I now feel more confident, and I've received positive feedback (add evidence) from my peers about my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly."

Don't forget to measure your growth with data and metrics.

Also prepare the question for any achievement you have done: "What could you have done differently or better?" and prepare an answer for each.

For example: "While I successfully led the client presentation, I realized afterward that I could have prepared the technical questions that came up. The following time, I've worked with the team to prepare a FAQ that was use to give accurate answers on the spot. (Insert feedback from the customer confirming it)"

The answer should demonstrate self-awareness and show that you're always pushing to be better—a crucial trait in the fast-paced tech world.

It also gives your manager insight into how they can support your growth in the coming year.

This combination of showcasing growth and admitting areas for improvement shows maturity and a growth mindset—highly valued qualities in tech professionals.

?? Your Mission: Make It Easy for Your Manager

Remember, your manager wants you to succeed—your wins are their wins.

Your prep work makes it easier for them to sing your praises to the higher-ups.

Think of your manager as your personal hype person—your job is to give them an arsenal of achievements to shout about.

The more organized and clear you are about your contributions, the more confidently they can advocate for you.

This could mean the difference between a standard raise and a promotion, or between staying in your current role and taking on exciting new responsibilities.

?? Conclusion: Own Your Career Growth

By nailing your prep, you're not just checking a box—you're setting the stage for bigger and better things in your tech career.

This review is your launchpad to new challenges, exciting projects, and greater impact.

So go on, tech rock star—show 'em what you're made of.

With this guide in your toolkit, you're ready to turn your performance review into a highlight of your year.

You've got the skills, you've put in the work, and now it's time to reap the rewards.

You've absolutely got this!

Note from Yann: ?? Hey folks! Thanks for reading the 24th edition of The Simple Leader’s Playbook.

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