What is a Performance Review?
A performance review is conducted between you and your supervisor (or manager) to evaluate and discuss your performance. It is a meeting that is usually held annually but depending on your employer can be held weekly, monthly and even quarterly (every 3 months). During this meeting, you and your manager can discuss a range of topics such as productivity, attendance, and even goal planning.
It may be intimidating at first, but performance reviews are important. As an employee, it helps you understand your progress and your level of contribution to the company. performance reviews also provide an opportunity to build a relationship with your supervisor or manager. performance reviews today differ between companies but, the principle is the same – it is about you as an employee and your level of contribution and progress towards company goals and initiatives.
Here are some tips for making the most of your next performance review.
Prepare Yourself
Before your performance review you should gather notes. Document your achievements and accomplishments so you can use them during the review. If you are doing an exceptional job – show the proof. This can help your manager evaluate and consider giving you a raise for your work.
It’s easy for you to sit there and listen to your manager say how well you’ve been doing in the company. What’s not easy is to hear the opposite. So it’s best to mentally prepare yourself for when you get negative feedback. It’s difficult to hear that we’re doing a bad job or we’re not doing things right. Although at times it may be hurtful, it is an opportunity for you to take that feedback and become a better version of yourself.
Be An Effective Listener
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and wondered if they are actually listening to you? It happens more often that you think. When it comes to relationship building and collaboration, the skill of being an effective listener is your friend. To be able to listen effectively you need to show the speaker that you understand and that you are following along with the conversation.
Subtle actions like nodding your head in agreement, maintaining eye contact, and even having the right body language can show your manager that you are listening and understanding the conversation at hand.
Learn to Respond Constructively to Negative Feedback
Although you may receive negative feedback, it is critical to understand that not everyone is perfect – there is always room for improvement. Your supervisor or manager is not judging you or intentionally trying to bring you down. But instead, they are trying to identify your strengths and weaknesses. So, remember to not take things to heart.
Take Notes
There are a lot of things to take in during a performance review so it is best to be prepared by taking notes. Writing down key points during the review such as goals, your own strengths and weaknesses, feedback and more are all needed so you can formulate an action plan after the review. For example, perhaps you missed an opportunity to ask a question during the review. You can write it down and remind yourself to follow up with your manager tomorrow.
Performance Reviews are intimidating, but they don’t have to be. Take control of the performance review by following these tips.