Spotlight: Preparing for Your Annual Review, March 2022

The words “performance review” can make even the most confident employee anxious. It is understandable. While a performance review is not necessarily something that people look forward to, it can be a worthwhile experience when approached thoughtfully. By taking the time to prepare for your annual review, you can alleviate some of the stress that is typically associated with it and turn it into a valuable career conversation. The key to a successful annual review is preparation.

Here are five steps you can take to prepare for your review:

Take time for self-reflection
Before you meet with your supervisor for your annual review, take some time to reflect on all the work that you have done in the past year. It is rewarding to think back on the contributions you have made to the organization and compare your goals with your accomplishments.

Do a thorough self-evaluation
The first step in preparing for your annual review is to do a thorough and candid self-evaluation. This step ensures that you get the most out of your review. Start by listing your achievements and your opportunities for improvement. From there, you can start to fill in details that support your achievements such as how you accomplished them and data that supports the results. For development opportunities, think of how you will approach making improvements and creating opportunities for change. If you had goals you did not meet, be prepared to explain why and what steps you are taking to accomplish them in the new performance year.

Get ready for the conversation
Think of your review as a conversation with your manager. An annual review is more than your manager talking to you about your performance; it is a time when you get to weigh in and share your thoughts and ideas. You will want be prepared to share the highlights of your year, your achievements and goals accomplished, and the ways in which you contribute to an inclusive culture. The annual review is a great time to bring up any concerns or questions you might have, as well as explore your thoughts and ideas for the performance year ahead.

Collect data to support your achievements 
Support your achievements by including data, statistics, and feedback from your colleagues and clients. Including different kinds of data helps illustrate the impact of your achievements and shows your manager that you have put effort into preparing for the review.

Prepare to respond to feedback 
Sometimes your review does not go exactly as you expected, so you need to be prepared to receive and respond to positive and negative or developmental feedback. When receiving developmental feedback, remember to pause, take a breath, and see if you can get curious about what your manager is sharing. Ask your manager to describe what they would do differently. Understanding their perspective will help you effectively share yours.

When it comes to reacting to positive feedback, there is something to be said about restraint. You can show that you are excited about it, but do not go overboard. Thank your manager for the positive words and assure them that you will continue to perform at the same high standard. Save the actual jumping for joy for after the review!