If you are having your performance appraisal soon and feeling nervous about it (especially if it is your first time having such appraisal), this is the article to read! It is common to feel jittery about the upcoming appraisal where your performance, achievements and even failures are being assessed by your superior.
Therefore, it is important to ready yourself for the discussion by being prepared. You need to have a clear 'scorecard' for yourself on your achievements and challenges you have faced etc. so that you can have your own stand too during the discussion. So, here are some tips on what you can prepare beforehand
The ScoreCard
You can use the SWOT analysis to do up your scorecard.
Reflect on your:
- Strengths (Achievements, skills, resources and even other people's opinions of you)
- Weaknesses (Areas where you feel weaker in, skills you lack and even negative habits that could affect performance. But always remember, this part should be accompanied with what you are currently doing to improve yourself.)
- Opportunities (Open opportunities you see in current trends that can help you/company further progress, new technologies or resources you can tap on to advance yourself or help you in your current work processes.)
- Threats (Issues you are facing at work and what are the things or people affecting your completion of tasks/projects)
Be Honest
Instead of avoiding the failures or mistakes, you have to be honest about the goals you didn’t meet. Of course, it is important to show your superior the obstacles you met with that causes the failure and demonstrate that you have given your best to achieve it the best you can.
It is also important to be thorough in explaining the goals you successfully met so far. Mention each of your achievements and suggest opportunities to further your growth and capabilities. Be confident but not overly confident.
Accepting Negative Feedback
Prepare yourself to not easily offended or hurt when your managers and supervisors give negative feedback about your performance. If their feedback is justifiable, you must accept and consider it as a valuable criticism for greater improvements to your job.
Should you feel that their claims aren't justifiable, calmly clarify the claims in a proper and polite manner. Express your argument and facts objectively and not aggressively.
Performance-Focused
Focus on your performance will make the assessment more efficient and objective. It is not advisable to blame others for your poor job performance (if you are displaying that) as you have to be responsible for your role in the company. Bestowing your mistakes to others can create a bad impression to your superiors, leading them to feel you are unaccountable for the work you do.
In Conclusion
When you are praised, do not get arrogant but seek continuous self-development and opportunities. When you are criticised, should it be facts, accept it and be ready to suggest ways you can improve. Not facts? Well, you know what to do!
At the very end, performance appraisals are set in place to allow career progression and development for employees. Thus, make use of it fully to push yourself to greater heights!
