Have you ever completed an annual review? I believe that everyone should complete personal reviews to evaluate growth, development, and the need for change. At this point, we’ve made it halfway through 2018! The year is moving fast and it’s time to take a moment to evaluate how we’re doing.
Think about this. Many people said they wanted a promotion or a new job. Have you updated your resume? Others have said they wanted to go back to school. Have you researched universities or filled out the FASFA? Some people committed to spending more time with their family. How is that going? Everyone sets goals or say they “want to” complete a certain task. However, some never take the necessary steps to move forward.
Annual reviews focus on what we’ve accomplished, what we can improve, and how we’ve contributed to our organizations. Let’s apply this in three ways:
- Reflect on what you have accomplished and learned so far. Take a moment to write down what went well and led to success. What are some takeaways that you need to continue in your personal and professional life? What are some lessons that you learned and can implement to continue to grow? These are great questions to answer to enable you to analyze your progress and development.
- Decide what needs to remain and what needs to change. After you reflect, it is time to take a hard look at the decisions and methods that didn’t work. Do you need to change a way you operate your business? Are some business practices not working like you thought they should? Do you need to let certain people go? Did you invest in a project that didn’t have the expected return? It is ok to admit something didn’t work. Learn from it and keep going. Remember that what you’ve been doing may not show immediate results and just requires more time.
- Make plans on what you still need to work on. Plan for the future. Don’t get stalled on the excitement of success or the disappointment of what didn’t go well and forget that there is still work to be done. Be grateful for the wins and learning moments but don’t forget to implement the needed changes and to set new goals. You are never done learning and developing.
Reviews are not always fun but careful evaluation of your personal and professional life can catapult you to the next level. Don’t be afraid to take a long hard look and make the necessary changes. Reflect, celebrate, change, and grow.