Corporate Performance Reviews
Let's start off 2024 talking about performance reviews and how to appropriately toot your own horn.
In the corporate world, you review your own performance annually. This self-review is then included along with other factors in compensation decisions like raises or bonuses.
I have a system that makes my self-review during the performance review cycle seamless. Every Friday, I jot down a list of my achievements for the week, highlighting the most significant wins. I also drop in screenshots of positive feedback, data, or quotes from colleagues and customers as evidence.
When it comes time to write my performance review, all of my major wins are already listed for me. All that remains is to explain how these accomplishments supported team and company goals. I find myself having to pare down the write-up from a long block of text to a bullet point list using a hierarchy that draws attention to the most impactful items.
Always link your achievements to the larger organization. For example, if increasing customer satisfaction was a company goal, connect the PMP course you took to an actual project you managed with higher than usual survey results. Every item in your performance review should have measurable evidence as support, similar to a resume.
And the biggest thing to remember is that your manager is not a mind-reader. Set aside the humility and share your wins. No one is going to sell your awesomeness except for you.
Bonus Resource: Listen to this Career Contessa podcast episode, “How to Brag at Work Without Being Obnoxious.”
