jennrod12's picture Submitted by jennrod12 on
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Career Management

I work in a small company and I've been asked by my boss to fill out a self-review form in preparation for my annual review. I've been with the company for a little over a year, and he's been with the company about 6 months.

I can't wrap my head around the self-review questions, and how to answer them with specific results or examples. There is a place to write up my 3 biggest accomplishments, fortunately, but then I have to comment on seven different performance factors, including the following:

Core Values: Routinely demonstrates company's Core Values which are: deliver results quickly; measure, iterate and improve, enable customer success, and be humble.

Job Knowledge: Routinely demonstrates the knowledge and application of specific information, skills and experience relating to the job. Adapts new knowledge to situations and keeps informed on key industry trends and issues.

Judgment and Problem Solving: Demonstrates the ability to make well-reasoned, sound decision that affect work performance from a technical, business and people perspective. Considers precedents and guidelines, and seeks guidance and counsel when appropriate. When appropriate, uses tools and/or problem solving methodologies to arrive at a data based decision.

I'll spare you the rest.

It's especially difficult because I haven't been given any feedback since I joined the company, and have reported to three different people as personnel changed. I manage a team, and my boss directly manages another team, in addition to me. He's a VP, so he's also very involved with company strategy, etc.

Any suggestions on a meaningful way to comment on these performance factors besides essentially writing, "Yes, I do this" (only with a lot more words) would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, my boss is a listener, not a reader, and I already gave him my self-review info M-T style, and his response to that was to give me this empty form and tell me to fill it in. (I don't believe he read the self-review I gave him.)

Thanks,

Jenn

Solitaire's picture
Submitted by Solitaire on Tuesday September 23rd, 2014 8:00 am

Hi Jenn,

This sounds similar to part of our appraisal system. To answer these types of questions we have to give a few examples.

So for example around problem solving you could say "I demonstrated good problem solving skills when addressing the issue of abc by implementing a new process of xyz". Or you could answer the core values question by saying "Results delivered within deadline on xyz project". 

There is a post (link below) where Mark suggests using the Sum-Ex method or the SEER method:

http://www.manager-tools.com/forums-614

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Solitaire

jennrod12's picture
Submitted by jennrod12 on Thursday September 25th, 2014 4:15 pm

Thanks, Solitaire,

I actually had started doing that after I wrote the post. Writing the post helped me get more creative about it. Now I'm mulling over how many examples to give for each section, is one enough, or should it be two or three? Sometimes there are several different traits mentioned in one section.

Thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out!

Jenn

Solitaire's picture
Submitted by Solitaire on Friday September 26th, 2014 12:03 pm

I think you should go for two or three examples to address all or most of the traits mentioned (covering the more diverse ones mentioned).

An additional thought; at our company we also add in examples of where we've not done so well and show that we recognise where we need to improve.

Not sure if you'd want to do that if no-one else is, but it would certainly stand you apart from others who only recognise the good in themselves!