Collecting Accomplishments and Exceeding Expectations

Excerpts from Exceeds Expectations: Take Control of Your Performance Review

There are so many names for the often dreaded process we all go through in the workplace: performance review, performance evaluation, performance management process, employee development process, and the list could go on forever. Rankings, ratings and reviews are a part of our life from the time we are born and we all want to Exceed Expectations and be acknowledged for our contributions and successes. To make that happen, you must take control of the process and showcase your accomplishments.

Can you remember what you accomplished earlier today? How about ten months ago? It is very difficult to recall what has been accomplished over the past year without reminders. In the moment, it is hard to believe we can forget such a stellar accomplishment. Unfortunately, we often forget the most important ones when we are pressed to list our accomplishments for a performance review or job interview or award application. By creating a system for collecting your accomplishments, they become easily accessible and easy to recall for your review.

An accomplishments reservoir is the quickest and easiest way to collect your accomplishments throughout the year. This can be a list, a file folder, a drawer, an email folder, or any mechanism to hold your accomplishments in one place – or one electronic and one physical place. Each time you achieve a goal, receive an award or collect some sort of accomplishment, deposit it into your accomplishments reservoir so you can easily find it for your performance review or other needs, such as a job interview or award application. We often think we’ll never forget the moment, and then months of busy days and bigger accomplishments later, we can no longer remember the details.

Your accomplishments reservoir should be updated on a regular basis for it to be effective and useful. At a minimum, take fifteen minutes once a month to brainstorm, collect or file accomplishments. In addition, be sure you capture the details of the accomplishment such as the date, project referenced, solution or award criteria, and any key results so you can recall them when needed.

Use the contents of your accomplishments reservoir in preparation for your performance review and in strategic communications to your manager throughout the year. Align your accomplishments to your organization’s goals and communicate then to your manager and others who may influence the outcome of your review. Share compliments you receive as examples of your success and ensure they get documented or filed with your performance review. Don’t let your accomplishments simply get filed away – use them strategically throughout the year and you will Exceed Expectations in your performance review and throughout your career.