Preparing for a performance review

A successful performance review is a discussion between the employer and employee where all participants are looking ahead. The employee must have a clear understanding of the expectations, responsibilities, and areas he/she is in charge of to work independently, as is often required by professional organizations. This is supported by sparring, supportive, and encouraging discussion.

Preparing for a performance review as an employee

You will get the most out of the performance review when you arrive well prepared. Preparation takes time, but it is worth it because it increases the opportunities for meaningful development of your work. Utilize Career Specialists’ tips for a successful outcome:

1. Know your skills and accomplishments. In everyday life, there is often no time to stop and think about how you do your work and how you develop and thrive. However, in the run-up to the performance review, time should be set aside for this. To help with this, you can take part in knowledge identification training courses as well as watch a webinar recording on the topic.
2. Decide what you are aiming for and outline the steps to achieve this goal. When you know your skills, where you are now, and have set yourself a goal, it will be easier for you to bring out dynamics you would like to develop, and things that would challenge you and give meaning to your everyday life. Always justify your points by referring to the strategic objectives of your organization and team.
3. Make the plan visible to yourself. Write down your thoughts and take your notes to the performance review meeting. At the end of the performance review, check that you have raised the issues that you had listed in your notes. That way, you can make the most of the conversation.
4. Identify the realities. Find out in advance what is likely to be achieved in the light of the possibilities. Developing your job description is easiest when you take into account financial issues, strategic objectives, and available human resources.

Preparing for a performance review as an employer’s representative

1. Find out what are the performance review practices at your workplace that you are expected to follow.
2. See the value of the performance review as a means to develop working methods. Do not treat the review as a mandatory administrative evil. Also, always think ahead before each review. What is the most important aspect of this particular employee involved in the discussion? People have a different life and career situations and varying factors to develop, which means that you have to be prepared to deal with every review separately. During the conversation, always meet a person as a person, not as an economic resource.
3. Find the future goals of your team from your performance review and strategic goals.
4. Make sure that the things that have been agreed in the performance review start to be actualized. Be an example by showing that the performance review is not just an administrative formality, but an opportunity to develop business activities.