exam_proctologist_sIs your annual review process like visting a proctologist?

Most people are not looking forward to their annual review, however you can be better prepared by managing the process.

  1. If you are a new employee start with the basics by determining if the company conducts reviews based on the employee’s start date or a review date deadline for all employees.
  2. Schedule a meeting with your manager to ensure your job description has been updated and is accurate.
  3. Schedule a time with HR to gain a solid understanding of the annual review process. The goal is to understand the process from the “employee” and “manager” perspectives. Your company may use the 360 degree evaluation process and if you are a high potential employee this process will be to your advantage. If you are not a high potential employee make it a goal.
  4. Gain a solid understanding of your goals or main business objectives (MBOs). Make a note of what goals are associated with your team versus individual goals. If possible, add in one or two additional goals that you are certain you can accomplish. By creating a reputation of  over-delivering you will place yourself in a better position for future negotiations.
  5. Schedule a time to meet with your manager quarterly to review the goals.
  6. Review the data from your last evaluation and make note of negative or positive change.
  7. Meeting objectives: First, review events that may affect your due dates such as employee turnover, change in priorities or management changes. Second, ask your manager about your performance over the last quarter. This tactic will allow you to make adjustments over the year to systematically improve your performance. Moreover, it will put you in a better position to complete your goals. Third, take notes on any modifications to the plan and email your manager the meeting minutes to confirm changes.

Do you think this sounds extremely simple? Perhaps, but we sometimes have trouble with executing the plan. These are just some thoughts to improve the annual review process. How would you improve the process?