The year-end review serves a few different purposes. Its primary function is to keep communication open between employees and their managers. If done well, the process should provide actionable insights to both. We’ve put together a list of helpful tips to help employees prepare for their year-end performance review.

Don’t go unprepared into your next performance review. Check out our worksheet to help you get more from your year-end performance reviews.

It's Not Just About You

While you are the subject of the review, so is the organization. A good review is about more than what you’ve done, it’s about your role in the organization and how your contributions have helped the company achieve its goals.

Keep it Real

Avoid flattery, hyperbole or dramatics. Your manager needs your honest assessment of what is going on. They need to know what you think and how things look from your angle. Telling them what you think they want to hear doesn’t really help either one of you. That said, constructive insight is far more valuable than a laundry list of complaints.

Look for Answers

You don’t have to have a solution for every issue or challenge you or the organization faces. Of course helpful ideas are usually appreciated, but when you can’t provide a solution, showing that you’ve at least tried to find one goes a long way. It shows that you care and that you are trying your hardest to help the organization work its best.

Need more help? Be sure to check out our Year-End Performance Review Worksheet, and join our mailing list to get career tips. Remember to print important work materials on high quality paper such as Hammermill^® Premium Color Copy, 28lb printer paper.