How To Excel In Performance Evaluations

By Natasha Leitao
[Getting it Done]
If the thought of your job performance evaluation makes you want to throw yourself out the window, you’re not alone.  Natasha Leitao tells you how to handle it with panache.
In most jobs, it is inevitable that at some point, you will be faced with a performance evaluation.  The thought of such can evoke much anxiety, gross perspiration and an increased tendency to consume alcohol in the common man or woman.  This phenomenon is perfectly sensible, as historically, performance evaluations were used as laundry lists to highlight weaknesses in employees and in several instances, to terminate said individuals.  However, performance evaluations have evolved substantially.  Here’s how to survive yours and make it the best one yet.  

The Many Faces Of Evaluation

Alas, performance evaluation is not one size fits all.  One type of appraisal can be singular, where a manager writes on an employee’s performance, the two individuals meet to discuss the information and the employee has the opportunity to contribute to the document.  Both parties discuss future goals and each signs a copy.  

Another classification of evaluation is reflective feedback, where the employee must first demonstrate in writing how he or she has met the criteria/competencies/skills required for the job being performed, as well as long and short term goals to be achieved.  The employee’s supervisor then writes his or her perception of the employee’s performance, and the two parties meet to discuss and sign off.  For the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on the latter, as it is more comprehensive.  

Brag Book

I cannot stress the following enough.  Write your performance evaluation well.  This is your time to thoroughly attest to your proficiency as a worker, without embellishing on facts.  Ensure that you demonstrate clearly and concisely how you have fulfilled each aspect of your job description over the past year.  Backing it up with specific examples of your work is prudent.  It can be difficult to remember every single project and task you have completed, so I recommend keeping a journal of sorts to assist you in referencing your work.  

While you can verbally discuss in your evaluation meeting work completed or goals accomplished that you have overlooked, remember that it’s always better to put it in writing.  You don’t want to go overboard on your form, but you don’t want to skimp either.  The organization isn’t necessarily going to automatically recognize your contributions, so you need to be explicit on how valuable of an employee you really are.
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