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It is ‘that time of the year’ again for all working professionals. Yes, we are talking about the appraisal season!
You may have already received emails from your HR department requesting you to review your performance and discuss the same with your boss. It is the time to analyse your professional decisions, determine what to highlight in the appraisal, and most importantly: worry about getting a good pay hike or promotion this year. 45% bosses feel that their employees are unfairly appraised.* To ensure that your performance is evaluated fairly, you need to be real with yourself and validate all your ‘good work’.
Of course, it’s important to do a good job the entire year, but did you know there are some sure-shot ways of impressing your boss in the appraisal meeting itself? It is never too late to act. So, irrespective of whether you are a product manager or an Android app developer, you can use these magical hacks to convince your boss and recommend you for a promotion!
1. Try to reach a common ground when it comes to negotiation
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Having invested your hard work and time in the job, it is natural for you to have certain expectations from your annual performance review. You'd also have an opinion on your role in the company/team and the ‘reward’ you deserve for your inputs.
While your judgement about your required pay is not completely wayward, your employer will also have to consider other factors like the pay of your colleagues, time duration, and budgetary allowances. Being adamant and demanding will not serve the purpose. Let your boss and the HR department do the talking, post which you can share your proposition.
2. Accept mistakes and offer assurances on improvement
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Made a mistake more than once in the past? Hoping that it will go unnoticed and you’ll still get the hike? Well, there’s a good chance that your boss is aware of your mistakes and shortcomings. And honestly, it is acceptable to commit mistakes. Workforce talent still consists of humans, who are expected to slip up once in a while. Robots haven’t taken up on the world yet.
Research suggests that 92% employees agree that negative feedback is instrumental to their growth.* So why not urge the higher management to help you in understanding your flaws and getting better?
Appraisal is the time when all critique of performance is presented to employees. It is difficult to face negative comments. You may not agree with some of the mistakes highlighted by your seniors. You may have your reasons for justifying your actions. But do you think your supervisor is looking for excuses and justifications? It is always better to show a positive spirit in accepting mistakes and displaying a professional attitude of seeking constant improvement. Instead of harping on what led to the mistake, it’s better to focus on the key lessons learnt and points to implement to ensure that you do not commit the same mistake again.
3. Have data speak for you
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The most effective way of summarising your last year's performance is through facts and figures. Almost 83% of millennials prefers instant acknowledgment over formal reviews.* So put all that impressive data to work. Capitalize on all opportunities to quantify the value added by you. Highlight it and let the numbers speak for you. The best performer is judged not by the description of work, but by the contribution to the organisation. Although your bosses don't want a 50-slide presentation with graphs and pie charts, what better way than to show your contribution through data?
For example, if you came up with a great digital marketing strategy that increased the website traffic, you shouldn’t shy away from highlighting the engagement rate of the campaign.
4. Show a keen interest in training and growth
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It’s natural to be anxious during a review, but don’t let the appraisal season stress you. If you are aiming for a promotion at the end of the year, you will have to go the extra mile whenever expected of you and prove why you deserve it more than others. To show that you are keen on growing, you need to take an active interest in expanding your knowledge. You can begin by taking up an additional big data analytics certification course or an advanced Excel tutorial to hone your skills. Or any online professional course that interests you and will help you advance in your career.
While these are some suggestions, the final decision will be based on your work and commitment to the above hacks. So why not give them a try? Good luck with your promotion!
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