“Yay, it’s time for my performance review”, said no one ever.
Regardless, it’s about that time of year, when you sit down with your manager and hash out your contributions to the team/department/company, results, and upcoming goals. Yup, it’s performance review time! And whether you love your job or have to drag yourself out of bed every morning, you still kinda have to go through it in most companies.
As fun (not) as it may be for you, it’s generally not all that great for your manager either. Generally-speaking, the whole process can be seriously awkward for both parties (in addition to upping your chocolate consumption for the period). As much as more companies are ditching the whole performance review thing, most are still doing it, which means you’re still on the hook here.
Which also means you may have to seriously consider preparing for it. Hence these 7 slightly unconventional steps to prepping yourself for a stellar performance review (even if you’d rather get a root canal than sitting on the other side of the table):
Dig Out Your (Interview) Prep Toolkit !
In many ways, a performance review is like a job interview. Except in this case, you already have a job, and you’re trying to keep it, upgrade it, or move it in a new direction. Either way, every time you sit at one end of the performance review table, your job’s future is on the line.
Which also means you have to prep for the conversation like a pro!
Put yourself back in interview prep mode, and go back to the same type of resources you’d consult for an upcoming interview. This means digging out your company manual and getting a quick refresher on the organization’s internal practices when it comes to reviews. Check that you’re using the right self-evaluation templates and following the guidelines as closely as possible. And don’t forget to look the part too! You want to project a confident image, so dress accordingly. You can skip out on the interview suit this time, but don’t show up in your casual Friday jeans either!
Also, read up on the department’s and company’s recent events and performance. This will help you place your own performance in the context of what’s happening around (in addition to making you appear extra committed and motivated).
Prep Your Elevator Pitch!
Elevator pitches are not just for networking events or when you run into the company’s CEO in the elevator (literally). Believe it or not, your elevator pitch also comes in handy during your performance review. Reiterating what you’re good at, and what makes you unique as a contributor in your team, department and in the company at large, is KEY!
Read more on how to craft an unforgettable elevator pitch!
Get Comfortable with the Spotlight
One of the most challenging obstacles faced by many women (and men) at performance review time is being comfortable with talking about themselves. You know that cringing feeling you get when you hear the sound of your own voice being replayed? Yes, something kinda like that…
So what we usually do is shrink back and miss out on telling the world (in this case your manager) why we’re so awesome (which we are!)…Instead of outlining our strong points and qualities (as well as recognizing our shortcomings) and letting ourselves be ourselves in the spotlight…
Still hesitating? Give yourself the pep talk, like “girl, you did a great job producing that report”. Or sharing this insight at the meeting, or training your new colleague. Start by writing down your accomplishments, and practice saying them out loud.
Be Your Own Devil’s Advocate
So there’s that part about any performance review that’s about what you’re not exactly doing right…Or the stuff you could improve. Or that time you dropped the ball.
And that’s absolutely normal. Any review has to balance out the “good” and the ” not so good”. Except no one really wants to hear about what they’re not doing so well…
Prepare yourself ahead of time by being your own devil’s advocate. Honestly asses s the times when you may have missed something, overlooked details or simply messed up. The trick here is to present these not as big mishaps, but as learning opportunities to strengthen your performance in the future.
Instead of saying “I totally ruined this report”, say: “this experience with this particular project has taught me to pay attention to accurate report writing in the future.”
Focus on the Positive
A key to a successful performance review process is to keep it positive. No need to dwell on that terrible email you sent to the wrong person, or how annoyed you were at not getting a raise the last three years in a row.
Not sure you can keep spinning on your positive side? Then ask yourself the question: “What did/could I learn from this?”
Every time you look for the lesson, something positive comes out. So when you run out of positive energy, pop the question in your head.
Make Peace with the Outcome
The last thing you want to do is go in to your performance review meeting with big expectations and come out disappointed. So mentally make peace with the outcome, whatever it may be, before even stepping in the room.
Focus on what you can control, i.e. your attitude, how you present your accomplishments and shortcomings, as well as your plans for the future. As for the rest, it’s out of your control…
Prepare to Follow Up
One of the most powerful things you can do after a performance review is follow up. Even more powerful, prepare ahead yourself to follow up …
As part of your performance review prep, include some questions to ask your manager about how you can most effectively follow up with him/her.
What other steps do you follow to prepare for your performance review?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
