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10 Tips For Your
Appraisal By Arthur Cooper (c) Copyright 2004
Almost everybody employed in
a company of any size will be used to regular appraisals by their manager.
It doesn't matter what level you are in the company. Unless you are at the
very summit there is always a manager above you to appraise your
performance.
This is often a prospect
dreaded by both staff and manager. It is often regarded as a formality, or a
waste of time, or a time when the manager and his staff are rude to each
other. But it needn't be and it shouldn't be. Handled properly it is a time
when strengths and weaknesses are honestly assessed and agreed upon. It is a
time when mutually agreed actions are instigated for the benefit of all
concerned.
This short article looks at
it from the point of view of the person being appraised. How should he
approach his appraisal? How can he benefit from it?
Stop and Think
Before the time of your
actual appraisal meeting with your manager, think back over the previous
year (or whatever your appraisal period is) and do your own self-appraisal.
How do you yourself think you have performed? What have been your likes and
dislikes concerning what you have had to do? What problems have you
encountered and how have you dealt with them? Where, if at all, have you
fallen short of what was asked of you, and what were the reasons?
Be honest with yourself. An
honest self-appraisal of your own strengths and weaknesses will put you in a
good position to profit from your real appraisal when it does take
place.
Plan ahead
Confident in your own
assessment of how you have performed, you can now set your own goals for the
year ahead. What is it you really want to achieve? Is it a particular job
you want to do? Are you looking for promotion? Do you want to acquire new
skills? Think about what you need to achieve these aims. Will you need
specific training? Do you need to gain experience of a particular function?
Do you need to improve your people skills?
If you can go into your
appraisal with firm aims and ambitions you will stand out as someone who
knows where he is going. If you know what to ask for you are more likely to
get it.
Attitude
Demonstrate a positive
attitude in your appraisal meeting. Show that you take the responsibility
for your own success. Don't make lame excuses for things that have not
turned out perfectly. Explain that you have learnt from your mistakes, and
demonstrate your enthusiasm to improve and advance.
Co-operate
Don't be awkward. Don't make
it difficult for your manager. He may not enjoy appraisals any more than
you do. He may even not be very good at it. Ease the way for him. Listen to
what he has to say even if you do not agree with it all. Don't accept
without comment criticism that you not agree with, but disagree politely.
Back up anything you say with reasons and fact. By all means be firm and
assertive, but do it in a pleasant way.
Try to steer the discussions
in the direction that you want to go, by concentrating on improvements you
have made and can continue to make with the appropriate training or job
experience.
Listen.
Listen to, and take note of,
your manager's comments. Weigh up what he has to say even if you don't agree
with it. There may still be an element of truth in what he has to say, and
you may learn something useful about how others see you. If you do disagree,
however, it is important to say so. Don't just accept his comments
passively. Make it clear that you have a different opinion, but back up your
response with cogent arguments of your own to support your case.
Stay Calm
At all times keep your cool.
It is almost inevitable that you will bear the brunt of some criticism. You
manager will feel almost obliged to search for something, however
wonderfully you have performed during the preceding months. Don't get angry.
Keep calm. Fight your corner. Stay polite.
You will come across as
someone who can take criticism, but is prepared to defend himself and his
views. That can only do you good.
Profit from the
experience.
Use the appraisal process to
your advantage. Remember points 1 and 2. Go into the meeting well prepared,
so that after the initial looking back you can steer the meeting towards
where you want to go when you start looking forward. Talk about your aims
and goals. Show yourself to be a positive, forward looking person. Say what
it is that you need to achieve both your own personal aims and the goals set
for you by your manager. Ask for the training necessary. Ask for the job
experience you want. Ask for more responsibility and promotion. You
cannot fail to impress your manager with your enthusiasm.
Your appraisal should be a
positive and beneficial experience for both you and your manager. It is a
time when you can both reach a common understanding of the past and both
explain what you are looking for in the future. It is a time when grievences
can be aired and misunderstandings cleared up. It is a time when you can
reset course and secure the resources needed. In short, it is something to
look forward to rather than to dread.
====== Arthur Cooper is a
freelance writer, publisher, and consultant. For more articles go to: http://www.barrel-publishing.com/
or join the mailing list at: http://www.barrel-publishing.com/mailing_list.htm
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