Getting ready to write your performance review?Then, follow these five simple steps to create a high quality outcome as you write your performance review.
There are a few basic things you need to do when you write your appraisal.
If you
follow these steps and invest some time in doing them properly then you are well on
your way in laying the foundation for a great review.
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5 simple steps to a quality outcomeDon't rush - give yourself enough time and do not write your performance review
at the last minute. Given that you do this once a year or at most twice a year it is
important to plan this in advance and give it your best shot. Understand your system
so you are aware of the timelines. That way you will be able
to do a quality job.
Complete the correct sections - by now you should already have the correct form
or template before you write your performance review.
You should know which section to complete and what to write in each
section. Ask your manager for help if you get stuck. I always find it easy to write up
the main points in each section of the form and then come back to it later to expand on
each point in more detail. That way, you are kind of building the skeleton which also
prompts further thought on what could be missing and should be added. Now is the time to
refer to all the data you have collected
during the year and use it to complete
each section to accurately reflect your performance and achievements.
Write clearly and effectively - you may find this a challenge when you write
your performance review. I know I do when writing my own reviews. The choice and
structure of words used in writing performance reviews make a big difference between a
well written review and one which is poorly written. Your review is one of the most
important pieces of paper you will write so it pays to write it well. I highly recommend
that you use a phrase book
which will help you select the best performance review
related
phrases to suit your particular situation. I have been doing this myself for the last few
years and have noticed the significant difference in quality.
Bring your achievements alive - you can do this by writing well
and also
by focusing on both qualitative and quantitative data. A good way to do this when you write
your performance review is to write
each of your achievements as a first cut and then come back and review them later
in more detail. Does the achievement clearly state what you achieved, how you
achieved it and
the metrics or targets achieved? If we take the example of increasing sales then a
well written achievement statement could
read as: increased sales (what you did) by 10% over established target in eastern zone
(metric or by how much) by
building close working relationships with my customers and providing them a superior
service (how you did it). Spend some time when you write your performance review by
writing and reviewing your achievement statements
till they actually start painting a picture or telling a story about your performance.
Polish it - write, review, polish and then repeat it if necessary. By following
this simple approach you will be able to produce a high quality document when you write
your performance review. Do not forget
to check your document for spelling and grammar also. It will be very embarrassing for you
to hand over a document that has these errors. If possible, try and also have enough white
space in your document and combine it with a font that will make it easy on the eye of
the reader. No point in cramming five pages of text into one page by selecting the smallest
font size! Go for extra pages or try and write more briefly. Use bullet points instead of
long sentences to make your point. Finally, let your document rest for a day or so before
coming back to it. This space will allow you some time to reflect on anything that is
missing and will also enable you to review your document with a fresh eye for the final
review and polish!
Good luck!
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- what data to collect.
Next
- what to do before you submit your review.
All 10 steps
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