Article: How to write a self-appraisal that has more recall value

Life @ Work

How to write a self-appraisal that has more recall value

An employee who has listed down all his achievements in a proper way would have more recall value as compared to those who prefer words of self-praise over concrete points.
How to write a self-appraisal that has more recall value
 

A half-filled self-appraisal form will leave a bad impression even if it is coming from a top performer

 

An employee who has listed down all his achievements in a proper way would have more recall value as compared to those who prefer words of self-praise over concrete points.

Self-appraisal is an important part of the appraisal process. The way an appraisal form is filled tells a lot about how seriously the employee takes his appraisals. An employee’s self-appraisal form isn’t a deciding factor when it comes to increments but a well-written self-appraisal helps one present his case in an effective manner. Similarly, half-filled self-appraisal form will leave a bad impression even if it is coming from a top performer.

What to do

1. List down all your major achievements: This is one of the most important things to do.Sometimes, reluctance in highlighting one’s contribution is one of the reasons why employees fail to present their achievement in an impressive way. Blogger Anita Hall writes on her blog, “Your self evaluation is one document where you should talk about yourself with grace and diplomacy. Don’t worry about modesty since this is your chance to toot your own horn. If you don’t act as your own best advocate who will?”
Make a list of your major achievements and mention them under relevant sections. Keep the details factual. For instance, instead of writing, ‘took initiatives to win over new clients’, writing the names of clients that you have added with the organization would be more effective.

2. Connect the examples to your KRAs:

Just mentioning your high-performance areas is not enough. Appraisals tend to measure performance based on the expectations from the employees. Hence, instead of mentioning random details, link them to your KRAs. This will bring focus on your overall performance and show that you understand your job responsibilities well. Make sure that you highlight high-performance points in all your essential job functions.

3. Keep the tone professional and be crisp:

Using casual words or phrases is the worst way of writing a self-appraisal. The tone should be professional. In her article Tips for an Effective Self-appraisal on the Yahoo website, writer Kristine Woods highlights the need to choose the right words. She writes, “Even the best employees can look shabby with a poorly written self-appraisal. Knowing what words to use and what questions to answer could turn a mediocre appraisal into a eyebrow raising document.” Keep the sentences short and to the point. Use professional language. It is better to write in first person.

4. Analyse yourself fairly:

Mention concrete facts and do not get into self-praise mode.A self-appraisal form that is full of words of self-praise may indicate that you do not acknowledge your low-performance areas. In her article, Woods writes, “An effective self-appraisal will not skip over any obvious weaknesses and mistakes. It is better for the self-appraisal to address each concern than for a boss to only read about a problem through a peer review or an appraisal written by a supervisor.” This shows that you have a balanced view about yourself and will also help the boss know your perspective on the low-performance points.
 

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Topics: Life @ Work

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