They year has passed and it is time to prepare for your annual review. Did you reach your goals? Are you happy with what you achieved? Did you make an
impact? What did you learn?
Looking back at a year of work can do wonders in setting
goals and aspirations for the next year and onwards. It is a way of narrowing your focus and
improving your decision making when it comes to career choices. Here are a few
items to focus on when you are reviewing the past year.
Successes
First, go back to the goals that you had set at the
beginning of the year. Start with the goals where you were successful in either
meeting or exceeding. Look at them carefully and identify why you were
successful in meeting those goals. What did you learn during the process? Will
you be able to replicate that success next year? Will you be able to teach
others how to follow the methodologies, skills or process you employed in
reaching your goals? Most importantly….did you actually enjoy reaching that pinnacle
of success?
Misses
Now take a look at the goals/metrics you did not hit. This
is a tougher review and it is always harder to assess failures than successes ,
but let’s not be too hasty. Falling short of your goals does not always signify
failure or poor performance. Consider it a failure if you do not take the time
to assess these areas of weakness and take efforts to improve for the future.
Really take a look at each missed goal and break it down in stages. Look at the
process, resources and impact you made in each area. What can you take away
from the experience and how can you improve your performance? A goal may have
been too aggressive and a careful assessment will determine a more realistic
one for next year. You will also have a better understanding of the kinds of
resources you will need in order to be successful. And, as far as process goes, it may be an
opportunity to learn from others on how they approached reaching their goals so
that you may improve on yours.
Sharing
A good measure of success is your ability to impart the
knowledge you have gained with others in the organization. If you are setting a
career path to management, the ability to teach others how to follow a
successful process is important. Simply put, “Can others do what you do the way
you do?” Can your methods be replicated to hit even higher goals? If you are
recognized for your successes let your management know that you would be open
to sharing your methods with others in the organization.
New Goals
After reviewing your year of work, now you will be ready to
set goals for next year. Be mindful of not only your successes but also the
challenges you had experienced over the past year. Set goals which will stretch
you but not overwhelm. Don’t try and he a hero.
You want to end your year feeling excited about what is to
come. Looking back to learn is a great way to move forward and perform.
