A performance evaluation is an important tool for keeping communication flowing between teams. Periodic evaluation is a chance for managers and employees to review the recent past and discuss expectations moving forward. An evaluation also serves as an opportunity to set goals, both as individuals and teams.Be honest and critical.
Self-assessments aren't just about highlighting triumphs. You should also critically assess the times you came up short. Being honest means pointing out weaknesses that could be improved upon or past failures that taught you a valuable lesson. Recognizing your own flaws is important to demonstrating your ability to learn and grow.
Still, it's important to not be self-deprecating in your assessment. Timothy Butler, a senior fellow and director of career development programs at Harvard Business School, advised employees to use developmental language when critiquing the areas in which they need to improve.
"You don't want to say, 'Here's where I really fall down,'" Butler told the Harvard Business Review. "Instead, say, 'Here's an area I want to work on. This is what I've learned. This is what we should do going forward.'"While keeping these tips in mind can help you with writing a self-evaluation, few things improve the process like seeing an example firsthand. To that end, we've created a sample self-assessment to help guide you as you create your own.
Strengths:
I am a dedicated employee who understands not only my role and responsibilities, but the larger mission of our business. I don't simply strive to do my job, but to help make this company a success.
I am a good communicator who stays on task and helps rally the team when cooperation is needed to meet a deadline or solve a problem.
I am a creative thinker who can come up with novel solutions and improve upon conventional ways of doing things.
Weaknesses:
I am somewhat disorganized, which often impacts my productivity. I have been learning how to better manage my time and intentionally direct my efforts. While it remains a challenge, I have seen some progress and look forward to continually improving.
Sometimes I do not ask for help when I could benefit from assistance. I am always willing to help my teammates, and I know they feel the same way, so I will try to be more vocal about when I need a helping hand moving forward.
Core Values:
I believe in teamwork and cooperation to overcome any obstacle.
I value respect and transparency between employees and managers.
I value friendship and building warm relationships within the workplace.
I strive to be a welcoming and helpful presence to my co-workers.
Accomplishments:
I never missed a deadline in the past year and, in fact, often submitted my work early.
I've gone above and beyond my job description to ensure our team operates at an optimal level, staying late and helping others whenever it could contribute to our collective goal.
I created and delivered a presentation, stepping outside my comfort zone to do so. It was well received and bolstered my confidence regarding public speaking.
Goals:
I would like to continue developing my presentation and public speaking skills. As a weakness that I listed on previous self-assessments, it is gratifying to see that I have made some progress on this skill set and I would like to double down on the growth.
In terms of professional growth, I aspire to enter a managerial role. I enjoy working closely with my teammates and considering the bigger picture, and I often help direct resources in an efficient way. I could see myself as a manager who helps facilitate teamwork and encourages workers to do their best.
Feedback:
My manager is pleasant and transparent. I never have to guess where I stand. I appreciate the openness and direct communication so that I know what is expected of me and how well I am meeting those expectations.
I would like to be more involved in decision-making at the team level. I believe each team member has unique insights that supervisors cannot fully understand since their perspective is different, and I believe involving staff members in strategic planning could greatly improve results.
Keeping things simple and using short declarative bullet points is key to writing an effective self-assessment. While the exact nature of your self-assessment might vary depending on your industry or your job description, this basic model can help guide you when writing a self-evaluation.
Explanation:
