Preparing for the end of the year - MAC024

For many companies, the end of the year is a time when employees have their annual reviews.  Today, we'll talk about the things you can do with what's left of the year to prepare.

Review your incomplete goals.  Start by looking at the goals that were set for you at the beginning of the year.  If there are any that are incomplete, are you on track to complete them by the end of the year?  How do your current priorities align with completing them?  If your priorities have changed, can you negotiate updates to your goals?  These conversations should be ongoing throughout the year, but as you approach the end of the year, it's even more important to address them before your annual review.

Prepare your self-assessment.  For most people, writing a self-assessment generally feels like a chore, but for those looking to get ahead, it should be an opportunity to make your case.  Obviously, cover all of the goals that you have been able to complete, but also use your self-assessment to document the value that you have provided during the past year.  If your tasks can be traced back to key performance indicators such as revenue or profit, showcase your contribution.  If your work impacts the number of widgets your company produces, document how many additional widgets were produced because of your actions.

For the goals that will not be completed by the end of the year, document why they weren't completed.  If possible, you will also want to document what changes you will make so that you'll be able to complete them in the future.

Seek peer feedback.  If your company does not include a formal peer review process, make an effort to collect feedback from your peers to be included in your self-assessment.  Have them describe what it was like to work with you and how you contributed to THEIR success.  As covered in Episode 016 - What does it mean to be a leader, being a leader is about enabling your team to do MORE; feedback from peers is a great way to document your leadership skills.  Be sure to review Episode 012 - Receiving Effective Feedback to make the most of the comments from your peers.

Prepare your personal goals for the coming year.  Closely associated with the annual review is the goal setting process for the following year.  If you have incomplete goals from this year, include goals that address the deficiencies that lead to them.  Also, instead of just relying on corporate goals, include personal goals for next year.  This will ensure that both you AND your leader are more invested in accomplishing them.  

As you  prepare for your end of year, I'm in the process of planning the next year for Managing a Career.  In order to best help you, I need your input.  What episodes have been the most beneficial?  What topics would you like to hear more about?  Head over to ManagainACareer.com and leave me a message.  As Tom Cruise said in Jerry Maguire, "Help me…..help you."