End of year performance reviews are right around the corner and with them comes the anticipation and excitement. These discussions are actually great opportunities to receive honest and specific feedback about your work, tout your accomplishments, and ask for that much wanted stretch assignment, promotion or bonus.

MAKE IT A PRIORITY

Very few employees take the time to properly prepare for these “fireside chats,”

Set aside a chunk of time (around 15 hours) to devote to this process.

REVIEW

Your job description along with the goals, competencies and development plans set out for you at your last appraisal. Use these as the foundation for preparing details on your accomplishments, strengths and areas of development.

TAKE STOCK

·        Your struggle areas

·        Specific behavioral feedback

·        You would like to work on specific goals and development areas

THE EMOTIONAL TEMPERATURE

Your frustration, disappointment, anger, excitement, eagerness

YOUR BRAG BAG

Your list of accomplishments

Choose a few tidbits (brag bites) you want to highlight Create Bragologues for each.

CREATE BRAGOLOGUES

Using choice brag bites, put together pithy, entertaining, story-like monologues about your work  Express them with enthusiasm, energy and pride.

PRACTICE “OVER THE TOP” (O.T.T).

·        Set aside 10-15 minutes in a quiet space where you will not be disturbed

·        Walk around the room to loosen up and then begin saying outer monologues such as,                         “I can’t wait to tell you this!”                                        “Wait ‘til you hear this!”                                                         in an exaggerated, Over The Top manner to get you excited and energized.

·        Once you are feeling eager to talk about your work, rehearse your Bragologues, questions, and assorted answers out loud as many times as needed until you sound conversational, fluid and spontaneous.

ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS

·        Your discussion to be both direct and transparent

·        Bring up any issues, uncertainties, and rumors surrounding your current job, position, responsibilities, team and/or company.

ZAP THE ZINGERS

·        Zingers are those statements or questions that may cause you to lose your composure during your review.

·        Anticipate these zingers and the tone in which they’ll be asked

·        Prepare and practice your responses.

This will definitely help you keep cool in the hot seat.

SHARE YOUR PREPARATIONS

If possible, share the materials you’ve organized in advance with your manager.                                                    This will foster a much more meaningful dialogue between the two of you.

Suresh Shah, Pathfinders Enterprise

My thoughts in writing above, are influenced by a blog of Peggy Klaus, an executive coach. . www.peggyklaus.com

Peggy Klaus is an executive coach who consults with companies, politicians and business professionals on the skills essential for successful communication and leadership. She’s the author of BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Horn Without Blowing It and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills. www.peggyklaus.com