[Kathy Ver Eecke]

Employee performance reviews are a necessary tool for building a successful team. They are intended to help both the employee and the supervisor. Despite this fact, the meetings are often dreaded events. Help your managers and employees get more out of their next review with these tips.
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[camargo]

This was a good article to read. I am one of those that has to perform a self evaluation. It is the worst part of my job. I find that I am so busy doing my every day work that I have no time to find new ways to perform tasks or make major changes. The year is nearing its end and I feel as though I have nothing to put on my self review that is new from last year. Does anyone else go through this, or have any advice?

[Stuart Wingate]

I know it is hard to find time to sit down and take stock or create improvements -- so it is something you MUST schedule throughout the year.

For next year, I'd suggest that you make a goals sheet -- after taking stock of things you do and areas you want to improve. Then work those improvements into your everyday schedule throughout the year. So, in 12 months you'll have something to put on that self-evaluation!

Now, for your current situation...are there some "quick-hits" that you could do in the next 90 days? Sit down and think of the 3 most frustrating or repetitive tasks within your area of influence. Areas that will save you or someone else time. Things that could save the company money.

Now, how could you improve them before year's end? You don't have to complete the project, but could you make headway? If the project is big enough, you could write up your desires, get your boss's approval and others' buy-in and begin leading the project.

And remember, sometimes the simplest ideas are always the most effective!

Good luck and let me know what you come up with!

[Kathy Ver Eecke]

camargo--it can be tough to think back over 9 or 10 months of work to remember where you've shined. A few things you might do to jog your memory is go through your emails or your notebooks. Check the subject lines from emails from early in the year--do the subjects remind you of projects or problems you dealt with? If you keep a daily notebook or journal with your schedule, calls and to-do list flip through that as well. Sometimes tasks you handled just las month can feel like a lifetime ago, use your notes to bring them back to the present. Good luck!

[camargo]

Thanks, I believe this may help. I am going to try to map out the top three most frustrating/repetitive tasks, and go from there. I have to start using time outside of the office to think of these solutions. I am going to go to the white board, and try to brain storm there. Thanks for the tips!

[Deborah S. Hildebrand]

What if your boss is too lazy to really put any effort into creating a really worthwhile review? It seems like most of my friends tell me their bosses just rehash what was said the prior year by substituting whatever the new projects were or if they are allowed to complete self evaluations, the boss just uses what the employee has written. Not very helpful to growing a career. Any suggestions?