Your Next Performance Appraisal: Make It Work For You

In the rush of everyday work, it can be difficult to think about your own career development. An appraisal is a key opportunity to identify your strengths, areas that need improvement and plans for your future.

The questions below are designed to stimulate your thinking and to help you prepare for and get maximum benefit from your next appraisal session. Think about your performance, your progress, and plans for the future. Appraise yourself.

  • What are my major accomplishments for the past year?
  • How well have I performed since the last review?
  • What were my key objectives and did I achieve them?
  • What did I do really well in the past year?
  • What problems did I encounter? How did I handle them?
  • In which areas do I think I could improve my performance?
  • What skill sets or competencies do I need to update?
  • Do my manager and I agree on priorities? If not, why not?
  • Are all my capabilities being utilized in my present position?
  • How can I better utilize my talents and skills in my present position?
  • How well do I get on with others on the team?
  • How well do I get on with others in the company?
  • What do I find most interesting in my present job?
  • What do I find least interesting in my job?
  • Do I have any interest or abilities which could be better used?
  • How committed am I to my job, my department, this company?
  • What are my key goals for the next six months?
  • What are my key goals for the next year to three years?
  • What support do I need to accomplish these goals?
  • What do I consider to be the important abilities which my job requires?
  • What would I want feedback on?
  • Am I open to honest feedback? If I feel squeamish, what can I do?
  • What are the ways in which my supervisor can help me to do my job better?
  • In what aspects of my job do I feel I need more experience and training?
  • What have I done for my personal professional development?
  • What are specific things I need to do in the next year for my professional growth?
  • In what ways would my present position better prepare me for assuming more responsibility?
  • When I was last appraised, what went well? What went badly?
  • Am I clear on the objectives and the structure of the performance appraisal?
  • Have I put together a development plan for the next months or years?

    • Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ? to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management.

    Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ? resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ? fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.

    In The News:

    Google News
    Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:25:52 GMT

    Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf - Bloomberg


    BBC News
    Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf
    Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
    By Patrick Donahue and Robin Stringer Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Gustav strengthened and picked up speed as it headed toward western Cuba and the US Gulf Coast cities ravaged by Katrina and Rita in 2005, after lashing the Cayman Islands with ...
    Video: Gustav Follows Katrina's Path CBS
    Some leave Gulf Coast ahead of likely evacuations The Associated Press
    Reuters - Minneapolis Star Tribune - New York Times - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
    all 6,069 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:40:06 GMT

    S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia - United Press International


    BBC News
    S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia
    United Press International - 1 hour ago
    TSKHINVALI, Georgia, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- South Ossetia says it will become part of Russia and host Russian military bases under a new agreement.
    Video: UN does have double standards RussiaToday
    Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will Times Online
    The Associated Press - AFP - Civil Georgia - New York Times
    all 6,104 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:01:52 GMT

    Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney - Boston Herald

    Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney
    Boston Herald - 8 hours ago
    By Edward Mason Mitt Romney - once a top contender to be John McCain’s running mate - may have suffered a bruised ego when he was passed over for the little known Gov.
    It's not Pawlenty, it's Palin Worthington Daily Globe
    Pawlenty, after the pick, another day at fair Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Post-Bulletin - Washington Post - Grand Forks Herald - CNN
    all 2,700 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:13:29 GMT

    Obama campaign buoyed by convention - Los Angeles Times


    ABC News
    Obama campaign buoyed by convention
    Los Angeles Times - 5 hours ago
    He sees an unusually strong jump in support after the carefully choreographed event in Denver. By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer DENVER -- Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous.
    Look out, Palin The Hillary factor . . . Chicago Sun-Times
    Hillary supporters aren't bitter; they're concerned Chicago Tribune
    The Associated Press - CNN - Philadelphia Inquirer - New York Daily News
    all 8,528 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:00:48 GMT

    US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1) - Bloomberg


    ABC News
    US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1)
    Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
    By Margot Habiby Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc plan to finish shutting oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and Enbridge Energy Partners LP will close pipelines as Hurricane Gustav gains strength and moves ...
    More volatility seen with hurricane, payrolls Reuters
    Airlines bounce as oil gives up early gains MarketWatch
    Forbes - DesMoinesRegister.com - CNNMoney.com - guardian.co.uk
    all 3,463 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:21:02 GMT

    Sign of the times - BBC News


    San Diego Union Tribune
    Sign of the times
    BBC News - 1 hour ago
    As Russia and the West warn of a new Cold War after the Georgian conflict, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Moscow tries to imagine what it would look like.
    European Union to Hold Urgent Meeting on Russia Voice of America
    last straw" for Russia Reuters
    New York Times - Financial Times - Wall Street Journal - Jerusalem Post
    all 333 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:10:28 GMT

    Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads - New York Times


    ABC News
    Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads
    New York Times - 3 hours ago
    By BRIAN STELTER Comcast, one of the country’s largest Internet providers, said this week that it would place limits on customers’ broadband usage.
    Comcast's Answer to ... InternetNews.com
    Critics Question Comcast Broadband Caps PC World
    CNET News - Wall Street Journal - ZDNet - InformationWeek
    all 386 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:08:14 GMT

    Create Blog
    Display RSS Feeds on Your Website


    PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

    Adsense websites

    Confidence Is Critical to YOUR Success....

    Make EYE contact when you look at another person. Look... Read More

    Working in Dubai

    Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is one of the... Read More

    6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume

    1: Keep It ShortConsidering that initially HR personnel only spend... Read More

    So Youre Thinking of Changing Careers

    "You don't have to take life the way it comes... Read More

    Waiting For the Official Job Offer

    At the end of the third job interview, Helene was... Read More

    Interpersonal Skill Building -- Yank The Suckers & Weeds

    According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing... Read More

    15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes

    The thought of writing a resume intimidates... Read More

    Top 10 Tips for Career Advancement

    Here's a list of the top 10 tips you can... Read More

    Do You Work to Live or Live to Work?

    Let's be realistic here - hands up all of you... Read More

    Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters

    Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover... Read More

    Making The Best Of Yourself At Interview

    You are just about to leave university You are just... Read More

    Resume Formats ... The Hidden Pitfalls

    Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision... Read More

    Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design

    There is one little practice that is vital to generating... Read More

    Power Resumes ? Writing Your Objectives

    A powerful resume starts with a good statement of objective.... Read More

    How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

    Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More

    How to Insure Job Security

    The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't... Read More

    When Your Job Goes Away: Seven Tips

    Q. "What do I do after a job goes away?"A.... Read More

    Does Your Resume Lack Vision?

    You're just getting over the shock of having become unemployed.... Read More

    Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant

    I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

    Working as a Knowledge Worker in the Information Age

    The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who... Read More

    Conduct An Informational Interview

    Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as... Read More

    Ten Tips to a Job Winning Interview

    These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The... Read More

    How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere)

    The first point to make is that the terms "CV"... Read More

    Minding Your Own Business

    Think you have gone as far as you can in... Read More

    Talented People

    I was asked last week for an article about employment,... Read More