It’s that time of year again…it’s your annual appraisal. Two hours of your life you’re never going to get back, while you wonder how you’re going to fill the time with your manager once you get past the small talk.
I don’t think I’ve yet come across anyone who voluntarily said “I’m really looking forward to my appraisal!”
Appraisal as a process clearly has an image problem. What can be done to make the process worthwhile?
Many of us view the process of a lengthy exchange with our line manager as a pointless exercise; something to tick an HR or organisational box.
However, the success of the process relies on both parties preparing for the meeting. Many people balk at the preparation part, especially when the paperwork appears to overwhelm the process. It can take some time to complete it. However, there are a number of things you can do to make the most of the opportunity despite the paperwork.
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Own the process
It’s your annual appraisal so this is your opportunity to blow your own trumpet and capture your key achievements from the previous year and to think ahead about what you’d like to achieve moving ahead.
2. Reflect on your learning, not just on what you did
Looking back over your objectives, it’s tempting to list everything you’ve done over the past 12 months. What’s more important is how you’ve developed and what you’ve learned from what you’ve done. List your key achievements and then ask yourself ‘so what?’ ‘What impact has achieving this objective had?’ ‘Why was it successful?’ ‘What did I learn?’ ‘If I did it again, what would I do differently?’
If you have exceeded your objectives then remember to capture any ‘above and beyond’ achievements.
3. Take an organisational perspective
How have you contributed to your organisational strategy or objectives through your role? What impact have you had beyond your immediate team or department? Have you generated new business? Improved systems, processes or team motivation?
If your annual appraisal is a vehicle to renegotiate your salary, this is the kind of evidence that will support your argument.
4. What do you want from the process?
Consider what you want the process to achieve. Are you hoping for encouragement to go for a promotional post? Is it an opportunity for formal validation or appreciation? Are you hoping to secure financial support for a course you’d like to attend?
Plan your meeting with the end in mind. You may find it helpful to steer the conversation at the outset by asking if the discussion can focus on things of particular importance to you.
5. Learning and development
Do you actively seek out useful resources, research and new things to learn? Or are you more of a passive recipient who only counts being sent on an external course as training? These days curiosity and an appetite for driving our own learning are what’s needed in the workplace. Learning takes place in many different ways…familiarising yourself with new technology with a buddy, or reading an article on your area of work. These demonstrate motivation. Someone who is a self-starter, rather than someone a line manager has to push, boulder-like, up a hill will be far more likely to progress in their career.
Explore topics you’re keen to learn. There may be a relevant course, but you might equally find an industry expert you can arrange to meet and learn from. Your employer is more likely to fund a course if you’ve been taken responsibility for developing your career.
6. Making the preparation quicker and more useful
Keeping a weekly note of your achievements during the year makes it much easier to pull them together when you’re preparing for your appraisal. Use the document itself to keep track of your progress against objectives. After your appraisal, and while your achievements are fresh in your mind, update your CV and LinkedIn profile. Trust me on this- you’ll thank me afterwards.
7. Feedback
It’s always valuable to receive feedback -both on your achievements but more particularly on how you can continue to develop. Your manager should be happy to provide pointers and specific feedback to stretch and motivate you. Sometimes this isn’t always what we want to hear- but platitudes and compliments are not what help us to grow.
In summary, preparation will significantly enhance the quality of your appraisal experience. Make the most of the opportunity to take stock, reflect on your learning and take greater control of your career development.
We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve. Bill Gates
