Sunday's Vitamin: Are you going to be appraised this month?

If you will have a performance appraisal meeting with your manager this month, then the following simple tips may help you get from him/her a better recognition of your successes, and a better understanding of your weaknesses & mistakes.

First of all, put in your mind that the appraisal meeting is an excellent opportunity to improve the communication, understanding & trust between you & your manager.

Second, ask for a copy of the appraisal sheet at least one day before the meeting. You can get this copy from your manager, from a colleague or from the HR department.

Third, make a detailed appraisal for yourself, filling all items in the sheet.

Know that the appraisal is usually divided into 3 parts; the first measures your achievements & activities, depending directly on your sales figures & on other activities’ reports.

The second & third parts measure your skills & behavior, which are difficult to measure because they don’t depend on numbers, and thus you may find your perception about them different from your manager’s perception.

That is why you have to think very well & remember actual situations & events in which you have expressed, used or demonstrated these skills & behaviors.

For example: you may find a question about your communication skills, and thus you should remember & write down previous situations in which you have used these skills in solving problems with customers or with other departments.

You may also find a question about teamwork behavior, and thus you should write down previous events where you cooperated with your colleagues in their work.

You can find a question about your leadership skills, thus write down events where you have successfully led your peers or subordinates towards a common goal.

Finally, fairly admit & write down your mistakes, and suggest how your manager can help you overcome them in the coming year.

As much as you write down solid examples demonstrating your skills & behaviors, and deal courageously with your weaknesses & mistakes, you will reduce the debate & misunderstanding between you & your manager, help him/her recognize your strengths, and give him/her a good impression that you are really working for the good of the team.

Try those simple tips, and tell me about the results …

Wishing you an "Outstanding" appraisal.