Making Performance Reviews Work for You

by Paul Kostek

Anyone who has been working for any length of time has experienced the 15-minute "Please-Review-and-Sign-This" performance review. How can you make performance reviews work for you when your manager is too busy to spend time discussing your future?

Performance reviews are yours; as such, you need to be proactive. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Reviews Need to Occur Regularly

Your performance review should be an ongoing process. Take the time to talk with your manager regularly about the work you are doing, especially if you have a new assignment or are new to the group. Be sure you are meeting his or her expectations. By talking either formally or informally on a regular basis, you will be able to identify potential problems or issues before they become documented problems. You will be able to eliminate surprises and will work in an environment that is more conducive to making corrections or changes.

Look and Think Ahead

Use review meetings to discuss future assignments and to learn more about your organization's direction. What opportunities exist now and what might be coming in the near future? What skills will you need to take advantage of those opportunities? While your manager may want to focus on your present assignments only, don't let that stop you from asking about what's next. Again, be proactive.

Self-Evaluation Is Important, Too

In addition to reviews that involve your manager, be sure to review your performance on your own. Did you grow professionally or learn more this year? Did you continue your quest for new knowledge by taking a course or two to help you in your present area, or in an area you'd like to pursue? Have you been given more responsibility, or did you take the initiative to contribute more? Is the direction you see your company taking right for you? These and other self-review considerations will help you determine whether you need to make changes.

Consultants Need Performance Checks, Too

What if you don't work directly for a company? Contractors and consultants need regular performance reviews just as much as employed professionals do. In these reviews, you need to determine how satisfied your clients are. Are you getting repeat or follow-on business? Is your client base growing? Are you developing new skills that will help you in the marketplace? Will your skills transfer easily into new industries? What is the trend for your particular skills set?

Reviews Are As Much for the Company As They Are for You

It's important to remember that performance reviews benefit both employers and employees, and in the case of the self-employed, they benefit clients and consultants. They allow organizations to be sure that the individuals working for them are helping achieve company goals. You may have personal goals that do not match the organization's goals. You cannot expect the organization to change. Instead, you have to decide whether it makes sense to adjust to accommodate the company's needs or make a job change. Regardless, performance reviews serve as one tool you can and must use to take responsibility for your career.

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Paul Kostek is a principal at Air Direct Solutions. He has served as IEEE-USA President and as Region 6 PACE Coordinator.