Performance reviews, like public speaking and moving, can be stressful and are not most professionals’ favorite thing to do. Many employees feel that they aren’t really relevant or accurate. Some managers view them as more of a formality. According to a Cornerstone OnDemand/Harris study conducted in 2011, less than half (45 percent) of the professionals who participated in performance reviews said “the feedback they receive is a fair and accurate representation of their performance.” This just adds to an employee’s stress and frustration about the process.
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When a performance review is conducted well, however, it can help an organization become stronger. And either way, performance reviews are part of being a professional, so it’s important to know how to handle them as effectively as you can. Here are three ways to feel more confident about your next performance review, and ace it.
Be prepared at any time. Instead of waiting for the review to be scheduled, get in the habit of tracking your progress, goals and successes, on a regular basis. You can’t scramble around at the last minute and dig everything up. Instead, keep an ongoing log of all of your accomplishments in an Excel sheet. Include specific results, obstacles you overcame, client testimonials or team kudos. For example, if your client wrote you an email expressing their gratitude after closing a deal, document it. If you were the team leader on a project that increased sales in the first quarter of the year, document it in numbers and percentages. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes each month to update this document.
Writing down your accomplishments while they are fresh in your mind will help you better prepare when the performance review is scheduled, and you’ll be able to keep track of results without having to scramble under pressure. Then all you have to do is review and organize the information and turn it into a presentation to bring to the meeting.
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Stay calm. This is easier said than done, especially when you are preparing to get feedback from your manager. In this situation, our emotions and negative thoughts can take over. Push your negative thoughts aside, and replace them with a positive affirmation. Come up with one affirmation — a word or short sentence — that inspires, calms you and helps you focus. Use something that changes your energy and your thoughts to the positive as you envision the meeting going well. For example, “I will pass with flying colors” or “I will ace this interview.” Try to relax. Take 10 deep breaths before you enter the room, and focus on your breathing throughout the meeting. Pay attention to your body and how you’re feeling. Sit comfortably and if you feel like you’re holding your breath at any time, sit back, relax and take in a deep breath. Prepare mentally before your review as well. Write down any red flags, mistakes or possible issues your manager might bring up, and decide how you will handle them beforehand. Come up with suggestions on how you can handle those issues in a better way. Then if they come up, you won’t get flustered.
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Thank your manager. Keep in mind that they may feel just as uncomfortable as you about performance reviews. Make sure to thank them for their time, for any feedback, and let them know you appreciate the work that they do — at the beginning of the meeting, and at the end. Mentioning this at the outset helps set a positive tone and will let them know you are open to discussing anything that needs to be addressed, setting the stage for productive, open communication. After a few days, consider writing a thank-you email or card to them. They will appreciate it.
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3 Ways to Ace Your Performance Review originally appeared on usnews.com
