HOW TO IMPROVE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS IN FIVE EASY STEPS

Your annual performance review should never come as a surprise to you or your manager.

If you or your manager or surprised by anything that is said in the annual review, it means you and your manager have not been communicating effectively during the year.

In this blog, I do not focus on the reasons behind it, they can be many, and I do not look to apportion blame to you or your manager, and I do not seek to look to the things that are beyond your control. Everything within this blog is something that is within your control, measures you can take to proactively affect your annual performance review.

One of the most essential tools for improving your annual performance reviews is communication. It’s best to focus on open and honest dialogue between yourself and your supervisor. It allows both parties to set expectations and understand each other’s goals.

Your annual performance review should never come as a surprise to you or your manager.

If you or your manager or surprised by anything that is said in the annual review, it means you and your manager have not been communicating effectively during the year.

In this blog, I do not focus on the reasons behind it, they can be many, and I do not look to apportion blame to you or your manager, and I do not seek to look to the things that are beyond your control. Everything within this blog is something that is within your control, measures you can take to proactively affect your annual performance review.

One of the most essential tools for improving your annual performance reviews is communication. It’s best to focus on open and honest dialogue between yourself and your supervisor. It allows both parties to set expectations and understand each other’s goals.

Here are five steps you can take to improve your annual performance reviews:

1. Set goals for yourself throughout the year - Setting achievable and realistic goals is essential in ensuring everyone involved has a clear understanding of what needs to be done and when it needs to be completed. Without this, it will be difficult to assess performance at the end of the year review.
2. Communicate with your supervisor regularly - As mentioned earlier, open lines of communication are essential in preparing for an effective annual review. It not only allows efficiency in goal setting but also lets your supervisor know if you need help or advice when tackling tasks that may require more experience or knowledge.
3. Ask for feedback - It is important to know how you perform throughout the year and not just rely on a yearly review. Asking your supervisor for regular feedback lets them know that you value their opinion and are open to constructive criticism.
4. Take initiative when possible - Your supervisor will be impressed if they see you taking extra steps without being asked to improve performance or complete tasks more efficiently. Taking initiative shows that you can work independently as well as part of a team which is important trait employers look for.
5. Be proactive about addressing any issues - If there are problems or areas that need addressing, it is important to bring these up with your supervisor quickly so it does not surprise you or them at the end of the year review. This also allows for more time to tackle any issues so that you can be in a better place come your annual review

These five steps are just some of the ways that you can improve your annual performance reviews with regular communication, taking initiative and being proactive about any problems or areas that need addressing, don't wait until it's too late; start preparing now!

I hope this helps make your next annual performance review easier and less stressful for you and your supervisor.

You should be ready to discuss past successes as well as areas where you may have struggled or need more support. This will allow your supervisor to get a full understanding of how you're doing, so that any areas needing improvement can be discussed and solutions put in place.

Ultimately, taking steps to improve your annual performance review is essential if you want to reach long-term career goals and stay motivated in your job. So give yourself a pat on the back for all of the hard work that you've done this year, and start preparing now so that you can have a successful annual performance review!

Best wishes,

Martin Cunningham.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.