Annual Performance Review

Annual performance review is carried out by every organization to evaluate the performance of its employees. There are certain preset parameters on which the employee is evaluated - known as Key Performance Indicators (KPI). A good annual performance review can mean a healthy raise, bonuses and lots of other career opportunities. Let us take a look at some tips for your annual performance review.

Annual Performance Review - A Few Tips

While some people may feel that the annual performance reviews are a mere formality and the raise/bonus one gets are predetermined, there are some tips, which if followed, may improve your chances of getting a good rating. These are:

• Understand what the organization's target is. How does it want to present itself in the market. Once you have done your bit of research, it will be easier for you to present yourself in a better way in the review. This makes the managers realize that you know about company's goals and are serious about them.
• It is important that you have some knowledge on the working style of your manager. For earning some brownie points, analyze the personality of your reporting manager. Identify the top priorities and show him how you have worked on them.
• If you have done some exceptional work the following year, do carry any documentation like a certificate with you. Expecting your manager to remember that you were the best team player ten months ago isn't really a wise idea. So, come prepared.
• Most managers would tell you to take criticism in a positive way and use it to improve yourself. This is absolutely necessary, but what is most important is not to snap back when the manager is saying those 'nice' words. If the criticism is not legitimate, allow your boss to finish and then voice your opinion in your defense.
• What we have seen from most employee performance reviews is that one tends to get carried away and ends up making broad statements. Instead, employees should try to speak numbers and statistics as managers can easily relate to these things.

As discussed before, majority of the employees who participate in annual performance reviews are of the view that these reviews can be successful if the objectives of the review are scaled down a bit. Also, researchers stress that employees should be encouraged to conduct a self-evaluation to ease the tension between managers and employees. In the end, we hope that this article on annual performance review can be of some help to you and help you in a great appraisal this year.