Employee Tips for Successful Performance Reviews

Welcome back to the Balanced Professional, your bi-weekly newsletter giving you insights on how to rock this whole work/life thing.

We’re going to break down a major stressor today - employee performance reviews. Find out why they are important and how to get the most out of them.

Important For Business - More Important For You

While we all know the not-so-pleasant feeling of sitting down with bosses you might not even interact with daily and getting told how you are doing, there is logic behind it. Here’s the thing, performance reviews happen whether you are in the room or not. There is always some deciding factor behind why someone gets a raise or promotion. Taking the employee out of the employee evaluation just means those decisions will be made without your voice thrown in.

Performance reviews can garner trust between employees and management, open up doors to career and learning opportunities, improve your ability to speak your mind and trust yourself, and the so important raise we all want.

Perfecting Your Part

When it comes down to it the employee review is all about you - the employee! Here’s how you can turn this situation into an opportunity and begin looking forward to these reviews.

• Take Your Own Notes: Write down your accomplishments, what you think would help in the future, where you struggle, and what you nail! Management might not catch, or remember, all the little things about you. When they ask how you feel about your work, show them.
• Create Goals: Don’t walk away with a vague feeling that you’ve done good (or not so good) the previous year. Create measurable goals that can carry you to the next review. When creating goals think of the acronym SMART. Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. If you complete your goals before the next review, check in with your manager to create a new one.
• Do Your Own Check-Ins: Speaking of checking in with your manager, you don’t need to wait for them. Regularly talk to your supervisor to keep them updated on your goals and stay up to date on what they think as well. This works in two ways. One, you have a better idea of what they want to see from you, and two, you have more time to show the best version of yourself for the true review.
• Don’t Just Be Valuable On Paper: Sure, the quantifiable evidence of your good work is important, but so are the relationships you form. Find what makes you different from the others and emphasize that. Beyond that, create solid relationships with your coworkers and superiors. Help where needed or offer advice if you have an idea.
• Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help: None of us are superheroes, your goals can’t always be accomplished with your own elbow grease. Asking for help when a problem arises shows you truly care about making your goals become reality. It also helps resolve any negatives before they have a chance to explode.
• Ask Your Own Questions: If you aren’t clear on what your management wants to see out of you just ask! This allows you to set goals you know they will like and that you can achieve. Ask them explicitly, “What is working?” and “What is not working?” Depending on your job you can ask them for recommendations on additional training they think would help with your goals.

Continue To Grow With The Balanced Professional

We’re helping this newsletter inspire the next generation of working professionals to put their best foot forward. Balancing work with life also involves feeling empowered at your job and knowing what the next steps are.

Once you subscribe you will see a newsletter every two weeks! Learn how to create balance, grow as an employee, and leave your friends and coworkers asking “How do you do it?!” After you toot your own horn, send them over to The Balanced Professional.

Here’s our tip for the day: Avoid the sunk cost trap. This is when you don’t change something that isn’t working because you’ve put too much time or energy into it and don’t want that time wasted to be for nothing. Instead, acknowledge that feeling, re-focus on your goal, and reframe how you are going to get there. Now you know what doesn’t work and can focus on what does!

Some Stories to Check Out From Adriana Lacy Consulting

• Why Your Company Should Encourage Wellness in the Workplace: While it is always great to be productive in the most efficient ways possible, it is also crucial to take a moment to breathe and relax. Read More.
• How to Improve Employee Engagement: Your employees can determine the quality of your workplace as well as your company's future. The more engaged and active your employees are, the better it will be for your company, and the more success you’re sure to have. Read More.
• Sponsored — Why a Standing Desk Could Be the Game-Changer for Your Home Office Productivity: Let's explore how incorporating a standing desk into your home office setup can change the way you work. Read More.