Navigating Performance Reviews with Confidence: A 4-Step Guide
From New Year’s Resolutions to Performance Reviews, reflection and goal-setting are in the air. While it’s review season for many, we think it’s helpful for everyone to reflect on their last year of work so you can close the past year with clarity and start 2025 with a renewed focus. We’ve simplified what can feel overwhelming about this exercise and created four simple, but powerful steps to help you demonstrate self-leadership, boost your confidence, and focus your energy and efforts for the new year.
Step 1: Set Aside an Hour for Focused Reflection
This may seem like an obvious first step, but it’s essential to schedule time for uninterrupted reflection intentionally. Carve out an hour for yourself to ensure you can focus without distractions. Trust me—your future self will appreciate this dedicated time.
Step 2: Record Your 2024 Goals and Reflect
Now it’s time to capture your thoughts and reflections. I suggest organizing your reflections by goals for clarity, but if your goals weren’t well-defined, consider breaking them down by month or quarter to help you recall key achievements and lessons learned. Take a moment to also jot down ideas for goals or areas you’re passionate about pursuing in the upcoming year. This step not only helps you plan ahead but also sets a forward-thinking tone for the future.
Use these four simple questions to guide your reflection:
What worked well? Think about your successes and breakthroughs.
Where did I face challenges? Identify the obstacles you encountered or mistakes you made.
What would I do differently? Reflect on lessons learned and areas where you can grow.
What are my goals or areas of interest for 2025? Start envisioning your next steps for the upcoming year.
Step 3: Craft an Honest, Objective Performance Story
With your reflection notes in hand, create a narrative that covers both last year’s performance and the goals you want to pursue in the new year. You’ll end up with a clear story of ongoing growth and development. Some tips -
Be honest with yourself - Managers value employees who can assess their performance honestly and objectively.
Use AI for a Boost - To make the process easier, consider using AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline your writing. Simply input your reflections, and the tool can help you craft a polished and thoughtful performance story. This not only saves time but also highlights your ability to reflect clearly and impartially—a key trait for building trust and demonstrating a growth mindset.
Step 4: Share and Discuss with Your Manager
Finally, share your performance summary with your manager. Ask for their feedback and see if they agree with your self-assessment. This is an opportunity for constructive dialogue about areas for improvement and further growth.
By following these steps, you’ll take charge of your performance review, showcase your self-leadership skills, and set yourself up for continued success in the year ahead.
Borrow our Template:
Click here to download a copy of our template to help you with Steps 2, 3, and 4. It includes a helpful example and ChatGPT prompts to support crafting your performance story.
Cheers!
~M
Annem Co-Founder & Leadership Coach
