It’s hard to believe it’s almost time to wrap up the year! That means for many of us, it’s time to self-evaluate our performance for the current year and develop a new individual development plan for the upcoming new year!  Self-evaluations can be nerve-wracking and make even the highest achievers nervous. It can be a delicate balance to not be boastful, keep it honest, and represent yourself well. Here are some tips to help you master the end of year self-review process!

Use this as an opportunity to shine!

A Self-appraisal is your chance to show your employer that you take your career development seriously. Use this time to reflect on all that you’ve accomplished in 2020! Think about things you could have done better, and what skills you could develop to do better next year. Show ownership of your own performance. If you’re anything like me, you may have a hard time tooting your own horn on day-to-day basis. There are probably things you do that go above and beyond that your supervisor doesn’t even know you do! This is the one time a year when you should tell your supervisor everything you do to help the company succeed! Shine a light on all of your achievements, so your leadership is aware of all that you do!

Use this as a time to improve your relationship with your boss!

Communication is key to a successful relationship between an employee and a supervisor. Use this time to speak openly, honestly, and build rapport with your leader. This will help you work together better in the future.  Ask your leader for feedback or to help you find a mentor. This will help you become more invested and happier in your work-life. This gives you the chance to get on the same page about your performance and improve your relationship in the process.

Use this time to objectively consider ways you could improve!

Self-improvement should be an on-going process. It never stops! There are always things that we can do better, or new things that we can learn to improve our workplace. Use this time to reflect on your day to day tasks and think about ways you could be more effective and efficient. Think about measurable ways that you can do better next year, and this will get you off to a head start to creating your individual development plan for 2021!