TrackingPerformanceAccomplishmentsandWritingSelfAssessments

Whatisaselfassessment?
Aselfassessmentisanemployeesopportunitytoprovideanarrativedescriptionof
theirmajoraccomplishmentsrelatedtotheperformanceelementsandassociated
performancestandardsintheirperformanceplan.Inaselfassessment,theemployee
candescribetheirmajorcontributionsandhowtheyaccomplishedordidnot
accomplishtheirperformanceexpectations.Additionally,accomplishmentsmayinclude
otherachievementsorrecognitionachievedduringtheperformanceyearandtraining
anddevelopmentalneeds.Note:Theratingisbasedonthesubstanceofthe
contribution,nothowwellthecontributionisdescribed.Providingtheselfassessment
doesnotnegatethesupervisorsresponsibilitytoprovideanarrativeofanemployees
accomplishmentstosupporttheendofyearrating.

Suggestionsforwritingtheselfassessment:
1. Ifyouhavedifficultyidentifyingyouraccomplishmentsorspecialstrengthsfora
selfassessment,thinkaboutwhatmakesyouproudinyourwork.Oftenthese
thingscalminganxiousvisitors,solvingsystemsproblems,mentoringnew
employees,coachingorcounselingothers,writingreportswillhelpyouidentify
youraccomplishments.

2. UsetheSTARmethod.Inselfassessments,youmustwriteconvincinglyabout
youraccomplishments,strengths,andskillsthatis,towriteaboutyourselfasa
starperformer.Todothatsuccessfully,usetheSTARmethod.Thismethod
involvesbrieflydescribingasituation(S)andtask(T),theaction(A)youtookto
accomplishit,andtheresults(R)youachieved.Besuretoconsideractions
whichfallintothesecategorieswhendecidinguponyourSTARactions:the
degreeofdifficulty,oneofakind,firsttime,highvisibility,largevolumeofwork,
deadlines,competingpriorities,innovationrequired,scopeandimpactforthe
workyouperformed.

Example1:
WhenIstartedasabranchmanager,annualemployeeturnover
was25percent.Iimplementedanemployeesatisfactionsurvey
andsuggestionprogram,establishedcoachingplansfor
supervisors,andinstitutedaweeklystaffmeeting.Asaresultof
theseefforts,theemployeeturnoverrateisnow10percent.

Example2
Mychallengewastotrainstaffinthenewsoftwarebythe
openingofbusinessonMonday,about3workdays.Idesigned,
planned,andmanagedaroundtheclocktrainingusingclassroom
instructors,onlinelearning,andtargetedjobaids.OnMonday
morning,96percentofemployeesreportingtoworkhadbeen
trainedonthenewsystem.


3. Usespecificexamples.Specificexamplesaddcredibility.Althoughwordslike
outstanding,dependable,andcreativearepositive,theydonotalwayspainta
convincingpicture.Insteadofstatingthatyoualwaysmaintaingoodcustomer
relations,citecustomersatisfactionsurveys,lettersofcommunication,andthe
absenceofanycustomercomplaintsaboutyou.

4. Usenumbersormetricswheneverpossible.Numbersareconcrete.They
communicateaclearpicture.Bycontrast,alargestaffmaybe20or200.If
youareinchargeofalargestaff,budget,orregion,usenumberstoshowhow
largeitis.Alternatively,statespecificallyhowlongyouhavemanagedit.

5. Donotexaggerateorlie,evenatinybit.Yourselfassessmentshouldmakeyou
feelproudandhelpyouspeakconfidentlyinaperformancediscussion.
Exaggerationsormisstatementswillnotgiveyouconfidence,inadditiontotheir
obviousethicalimplications.

6. UsethewordI.Manypeoplehavebeentaughtinbusinessortechnicalwriting
classesnottousethepronounI.Insomeinstancesthatmaybeusefuladvice,
butinaselfassessmentitdoesnotmakesense.Feelfreetowrite,Ihired200
internsorIwrotethefinaldraft.Ifyouparticipatedinasuccessfulgroup
effort,youarestilljustifiedinusingI:Withmyteammembers,Iwonthe
CorporateCommunicationsawardin2004.Varyyoursentencestructureifyou
findthatyouhavetoomanysentencesbeginningwithI.ChangeIreduced
turnaroundtimeby20percentwithinayeartoWithinayear;Ireduced
turnaroundtimeby20percent.

7. Giverelevantinformation.Mostselfassessmentsincludespecificcategories:
missionsupport,programmanagement,teamwork,communication,customer
service,problemsolving,andsoon.Besurethattheexamplesyougivematch
thecategory;otherwise,theylosepower.Befactual,specificandconcise.The
selfassessmentdoesnotneedtobeverylong.Summarizeandhighlightyour
importantcontributions.(Asaguidelinewriteamaximumoftwopagesper
performanceelement.)

8. Explainvalue.Besuretotieresultstoorganizationalgoals.Forexample,asthe
newethicscoordinatoratyourorganization,youmayhaveconducted40ethics
briefingsinyourfirstthreemonths.Thenumbersoundsimpressive,butwhat
doesitmean?Isthereacorrelationbetweenyourbriefingsandareductionin
violationsorincidents?Wheneverpossible,translateyourhardworkintoresults
yourreaderwillvalue.Considernegativedatatoillustrateyoureffectiveness
informationsuchastheabsenceofonthejobviolations,lawsuits,and
grievances.

9. Enlistthehelpoffriend.Whenyouhavedraftedyourselfassessment,aska
friendtoreviewitandanswerthesetypesofquestions:

Aremyexamplesspecific?
HaveIdescribedmystrengthsaccurately?
Iseverystatementclear?
Doeseverystatementsoundbelievable?
Isallthecontentpertinent?
HaveImissedanyrelevantstrengthsoraccomplishments?

Guidelinesforwritingtheselfassessment:
Restateyourperformanceelements.
Highlightthemostsignificantachievementsrelatedtotheelementforthe
ratingcycle.Remembertheselfassessmentdoesnotneedtobelengthybut
highlightwhatmatteredmostduringtheratingcycle.
Maketheconnectionbetweenwhatwasdoneandwhyitmatterstothe
organization.
Citeinstanceswhereyouractions/performance/conductexemplifiedor
exceededtheperformancestandards.
Notethechallengesyoufacedandhowyourespondedtothosechallenges.
Overcomingchallengesisanimportantpartoftheoverallperformance
rating.Challengesmaybetechnicalorinterpersonalinnature.Theymay
alsoinvolvetheabilitytosucceeddespitelimitedresourcesordifficult
circumstances.

SuggestionsforTrackingAccomplishments:
1. Maintainanongoingrecord,orjournal,ofmajorachievementsthroughout
theappraisalcycle.Bydocumentingmajorachievementsastheyoccur,you
havereadyaccesstotheinformationneededtocompletetheself
assessment.Createasystemtocaptureaccomplishmentssuchas:
Emailfolder
Worddocument
Notesonplannerorcalendar
Filefolderforeachperformanceelement

2. Document progress on a regular basis (for exampleweekly) and maintain

copiesofimportantworkproductsforyourfile.
Reports
Training
Metrics
Correspondenceincludingthanksfromcustomersorsupervisors

Remember,completingaselfassessmentisnotarequirement,butisyour
opportunityforyoutoprovideyoursupervisorinformationabouttheperformance
goalsandaccomplishmentsyouachieved,thechallengesyoufaced,andthetraining
anddevelopmentyoudesire.

PossibleAccomplishments:
Whichofthefollowingdidyouaccomplish?

Accomplishmorewiththesame
Accomplishmorewithother
Accomplishthesamethingwithless
Createsomethingfromscratch
Developanewprocess
Dowhatcouldnotbedone
Enlargeamarket
Enlargecapacity
Establishanewprocedure
Findacheapersolution
Findanewmarket
Findanewopportunity
Findaneasiersolution
Foreseeaneed
Foreseeaproblem
Foreseeanopportunity
Improvecustomerrelations
Improvecustomersatisfaction
Improveemployeerelations
Improvelabor/managementrelations
Improvemaintainability
Improvequality
Improvereliability
Improveteamwork
Increasemarketshare
Increaseprofits
Increasesales
Makefewerbadthingshappen
Makemoregoodthingshappen
Makethingseasier
Makethingssmoother
Overcomeobstacles
Preventaproblem
Protectagainstahazard
Providenewresources
Receiveanaward
Reducecosts
Reduceerrors
Reducelosses
Savetheday
Solveachronicproblem
Speedthingsup

ActionVerbsforWritingaSelfAssessment:

AcceleratedAccomplishedAchievedActedActivatedAdaptedAddressedAdjusted
AdministeredAdvancedAdvertisedAdvisedAdvocatedAidedAllocatedAnalyzed
AnsweredAppliedAppraisedApprovedArbitratedArrangedAscertainedAssembled
AssessedAssignedAssistedAttainedAugmentedAuthorizedAwarded

BalancedBeganBoostedBriefedBudgetedBuilt

CalculatedCapturedCatalogedCentralizedChairedChartedCheckedClarified
ClassifiedCoachedCollaboratedCollectedCombinedCommunicatedCompared
CompiledCompletedComposedComputedConceivedConceptualizedCondensed
ConductedConferredConservedConsolidatedConstructedConsultedContacted
ContinuedContributedControlledConvertedConveyedConvincedCoordinated
CorrespondedCounseledCreatedCritiquedCultivatedCustomized

DebuggedDecidedDefinedDelegatedDeliveredDemonstratedDesignatedDesigned
DetectedDeterminedDevelopedDevisedDiagnosedDirectedDiscoveredDispensed
DisplayedDissectedDistributedDivertedDocumentedDrafted

EarnedEditedEducatedEffectedEliminatedEmphasizedEmployedEncouraged
EnforcedEngineeredEnhancedEnlargedEnlistedEnsuredEntertainedEstablished
EstimatedEvaluatedExaminedExecutedExpandedExpeditedExperimented
ExplainedExploredExpressedExtendedExtracted

FabricatedFacilitatedFashionedFinalizedFixedFocusedForecastedFormed
FormulatedFosteredFoundFulfilledFurnished

GainedGatheredGeneratedGovernedGrossedGuided

HandledHeadedHeightenedHelpedHiredHonedHostedHypothesized
IdentifiedIllustratedImaginedImplementedImprovedImprovisedIncorporated
IncreasedIndexedInfluencedInformedInitiatedInnovatedInspectedInspired
InstalledInstitutedIntegratedInteractedInterpretedInterviewedIntroduced
InventedInventoriedInvestigatedInvolvedIssued

JoinedJudged

Kept

LaunchedLearnedLecturedLedLiftedListenedLocatedLogged

MaintainedManagedManipulatedMarketedMaximizedMeasuredMediated
MergedMobilizedModifiedMonitoredMotivated

NavigatedNegotiatedNetted

ActionVerbsforWritingaSelfAssessment(continued):

ObservedObtainedOpenedOperatedOrderedOrchestratedOrganizedOriginated
OutlinedOvercameOverhauledOversaw

ParticipatedPerformedPersuadedPhotographedPinpointedPilotedPioneered
PlacedPlannedPlayedPredictedPreparedPrescribedPresentedPresidedPrevented
PrintedPrioritizedProcessedProducedProgrammedProjectedPromotedProofread
ProposedProtectedProvedProvidedPublicizedPurchased

QualifiedQuestioned

RaisedRanRatedReachedRealizedReasonedReceivedRecommendedReconciled
RecordedRecruitedReducedReferredRegulatedRehabilitatedRelatedRemodeled
RenderedReorganizedRepairedReplacedReportedRepresentedResearched
ReshapedResolvedRespondedRestoredRetrievedReviewedRevisedRevitalized
Routed

SavedScheduledScreenedSearchedSecuredSelectedSeparatedServedShaped
SharedSimplifiedSimulatedSketchedSoldSolvedSortedSpearheadedSpecialized
SpecifiedSpokeSponsoredStaffedStandardizedStartedStreamlinedStrengthened
StructuredStudiedSuggestedSummarizedSupervisedSuppliedSupported
SurpassedSurveyedSustainedSynthesizedSystematized

TargetedTaughtTerminatedTestedTightenedTotaledTrackedTradedTrained
TranscribedTransformedTransmittedTranslatedTraveledTutored

UncoveredUndertookUnifiedUnitedUpdatedUpgradedUsedUtilized

ValidatedVerbalizedVerifiedVitalizedVolunteered

WeighedWidenedWonWorkedWrote

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