I thought I’d share a question someone asked me recently about performance review feedback.
I am getting nervous about an upcoming performance review, and I would like to know how I can use the information I receive to further my career.
While performance reviews are a shared experience, what people do with the information they receive during a review differs. Some find the review process to be helpful while others describe them as being as much fun as a root canal. People either find reviews to be stressful or a way to build on the value they bring to an organization.
Performance reviews can be stressful for the employee and the employer. Believe it or not, both sides seem to get anxious when the subject of reviews surfaces. The purpose of a performance review is to build better-performing workplaces, however the way in which the feedback is given and discussed often makes this meeting more stressful than it needs to be.
How performance reviews are given and discussed largely depends on the company’s culture and the training your boss has received. Ideally, performance reviews should be conducted throughout the year through coaching and mentoring activities.
In theory, reviews help bring insight into your personal development and lead to developing or strengthening skill sets.
You may not be the only one in the room feeling stressed about the meeting! You can help build rapport at the start of the meeting by expressing an understanding of the time your boss has spent preparing for this moment, as you sit down for the formal review.
As an employee, you can shift the way you see reviews from a nerve-wracking experience to a chance to have a good conversation with your boss about your career path. The better your relationship with your boss, the less anxiety you may feel over the meeting. If you experience an increase in anxiety, it might be a sign that you need to step up your communication with your boss throughout the year.
Here are some suggestions in turning around performance-review jitters and using the meeting to boost your career:
•Prepare ahead of time by keeping a record of your accomplishments all year. Use the same structure in outlining your achievements as you would on your resume; describe the situation, the action taken and the results.
• Use this time to develop a good dialogue about what your boss needs, and how you can help achieve those goals.
• Ask for suggestions about ways to strengthen the areas where you need improvement.
• Discuss the training alternatives offered and how can you take advantage of furthering your career within the company by being involved in some of these programs.
• If your company offers a mentoring program, this is usually a good time to discuss how this could be beneficial to you.
• Go into the meeting with a positive attitude. Nonverbal communication speaks louder than verbal conversation.
• Ask for clarification if you are unsure of the actions your boss would like you to take. This helps both of you develop clear communication about expected behaviors.
• A good way to see if you are communicating in a concise way is to repeat what was said. This not only indicates you are listening, it also creates good rapport.
It can be easy to get defensive when talking about areas that need improvement, but focus on listening by asking questions. Performance reviews are opportunities to get a snapshot of the future and affirm what competencies your boss wants.
How have you handled performance reviews? Did they make you nervous or help you build your career?
