Why self evaluate?

Are you wondering why you need to self-evaluate before your performance review, because no matter how well (or not) you are doing, your boss will have the final word? Do you think your evaluation might hold absolutely no merit? If so, know that the self-evaluation process is typically in place for good reason.

By the time you are done reading this page, you will find out why organizations require their employees to evaluate their own performance, as well as how to go about the process.

The Need for Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation gives employers means to engage their employees when it comes to evaluating their performance, as well as for formulating career goals. As an employee, it gives you an opportunity to prepare for your appraisal, after taking into account your performance and overall contribution to your team and organization.

Reasons why self-evaluation plays an important role in performance reviews include:

• You get to reflect on your professional accomplishments and mistakes. 
• Your manager gets to look at your performance from your point of view – be it in the form of your achievements or the challenges you face.
• Highlights from your self-evaluation serve as the foundation for your future objectives and goals, and can also be used to develop a suitable self-development plan.
• You can use the results as a driving force to motivate yourself.
• Your employer might use it as a basis for a hike in salary, a promotion, or a renewed contract.
• It helps highlight differences in performance-related expectations between employers and employees.

Feeling Intimidated is Normal

It is common for employees to feel intimated when they have to self-evaluate their performances. Matters can get especially challenging if you feel that your manager might cast aspersions on your ability to self-evaluate.  Some people find it hard to bring objectivity to the table, whereas some others have doubts about the details they need to include.

Bear in mind that your self-evaluation gives your manager a good starting point, and going through the process requires that you have a clear plan.

The Approach to Follow

Begin by making a list of all your responsibilities and duties. Take time to think about your performance since your last performance review, appraisal, or performance development meeting. Aspects that you need to include in your self-evaluation include:

• All the goals you have accomplished
• All your failures and mistakes
• Areas in which you need to improve
• Future goals

Since the idea behind a self-evaluation is to highlight your accomplishments, it is important that you take pride in your work. However, you need to be specific, rational, honest, and critical in your approach. You also need to shed light on all that you have learnt. Including facts and figures tends to help.

During the performance review, ask your manager for feedback about your performance. If the answer suggests that your performance is not up to the mark, identify what you need to do to improve. Treat the process as a conversation and not an inquisition. 

Conclusion

Self-assessments offer benefits for employers and employees alike.  Employers can use them to find out how their employees feel about their own performance. As an employee, you can use a self-assessment to identify your own successes and shortcomings. It can also serve as effective road-map, helping your career progress in the right direction.

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