Have you been hearing about the usefulness of a self-evaluation template? It offers an alternative to the typical system used to manage, improve, and evaluate employee performance. In many companies, performance management is based on a performance appraisal. However, that doesn’t mean workers can’t contribute to the process.

The Self-Evaluation Template A Feedback and Review Guide

When managers handle reviews, it takes a great deal of time and effort to think critically and honestly about how each worker is contributing to a team or overall company. A self-evaluation template can allow leaders to regain some of this time and put the work into the hand of employees.

In a traditional system, employees step into a manager’s office to learn more about their past performance records. Many times, these performance reviews are what determine if someone gets a pay raise or promotion. Having a lot of focus around them, or even feeling anxious when one is coming up, is far from uncommon.

Why Consider Implementing a Self-Evaluation Template

When it comes time for a traditional performance review, employees have little chance of influencing a leader’s opinions about them. At this point, a manager is looking into the past for behavior that has already come and gone. Since there is not much an employee can say at this juncture, a lot of energy can go into worrying about whether the performance review with a boss will go well.

However, it’s possible to take the agency into your own hands, even when a review is around the corner. Instead of stepping into the manager’s office empty-handed, consider bringing along a complete self-evaluation. Let your nervous energy come out productively. The self-evaluation is a great way to remind a boss about your accomplishments and strengths. In the eLeaP People Success Platform, use your Weekly Status updates to ensure you are updating weekly progress and accomplishments as well as challenges you encountered.

The inclusion of a self-evaluation template into a performance review can be empowering. It provides a way to show your manager all the great things you’ve done over the last year. Some employees feel as if filling out a self-evaluation template is nothing more than busy work. However, it lets you show why you are an asset to a company.

The process of self-evaluation can be different from one company to the next. Some focus on lots of writing, while others use a self-evaluation template with a few checkboxes.

Whether the process is highly informal or super formal, a self-evaluation template lets you show how many achievements you’ve had while addressing your weaknesses. Putting all those things in a positive light could change the trajectory of a performance review.

Top Benefits of Using a Self-Evaluation Template

One of the best reasons to use a self-evaluation template is that you can show off your hard work to a manager. However, there are other reasons to use some form of self-evaluation at your place of work. Doing so can give you an idea of where you need to improve and what value you already have. Using metrics and examples gives you a better idea of where you stand.

In addition, you have the chance to look at opportunities to become even more skilled. When you do this, you can advocate for yourself. For instance, you could ask for the resources you need to gain new knowledge and greater skills.

Using a template to put down your thoughts can also prepare you for the upcoming conversation with the manager. Many managers are aware that performance reviews should have no surprises for the employee. However, you also want to remember that yourself.

While you look over the notes from the last year, you’ll begin to remember all the things you did well and places where you could improve. This gives you the information you need to have a conversation about both achievements and potential improvement with your manager.

You also give yourself a chance to remind the leaders that you are an asset to your team and the entire company. Managers have a lot of spinning plates, and while they try to track the success of each worker, there are other things to do. Some things might slip by them. Your accomplishments might not be as apparent to them as you.

By using the self-evaluation template, you can remind the boss about all the great things you’ve done and why you’re a puzzle piece in the success of the company.

Tips to Use for Writing a Self-Evaluation

It can feel uncomfortable to sit down and write about all the things you’ve done well. Maybe it feels awkward or like you’re boasting. However, you can use the tips below to be sure your self-review shows both the things you have achieved and where you want to grow over the following years.

Provide Examples and Be Specific

Being specific makes it easier for a boss to take in your information. Vagueness is not going to do you any favors. You need to show the work you have put in, regardless of what that looks like. Maybe you take notes after you speak to clients, or you follow up with leads during hours that others don’t. Whatever it is, be specific and provide examples of what you accomplished.

Are you having trouble with specific examples? Take out a sheet of paper and start jotting down the abilities, behaviors, expertise, and skills you have available. Choose the ones you want to show in the self-evaluation and use that to select examples you should talk about to indicate the skills you use for the company’s benefit.

Use Metrics to Show Your Contributions

Numbers are essential since they connect what you did with what happened because of it. Metrics provide evidence that you’ve done the things you said and can highlight what you do best. In addition, metrics can act as leverage. These measurements are useful if you want to ask for something, whether it’s a higher salary or a more flexible schedule.

Set goals each year so you can quantify your successes and bring them up in a performance review. Many companies help you set goals, but it should be done even if that’s not the case. You can keep those goals on file and show them at the performance review as a way to indicate whether you met these goals and what allowed you to do so.

Equate Weaknesses to Opportunities

A self-evaluation is designed to help you show off all the great things you have done. It’s also helpful to reflect and think about where improvements should be made. It isn’t a bad thing to admit that you have some weaknesses, but you want to think about how you describe those things. Instead of apologizing for not having a skill, use them as a way to show where you can still grow.

Using solution-based or positive language is the right way to assess areas where improvement is still needed. Rather than saying, “I struggle with…,” frame it as “I’d like to focus on…” or similar language to make sure things come out the right way.

Track Accomplishments

To avoid concentrating on your most recent achievements, be sure you note your accomplishments as the year goes on. It may be difficult to remember the details of things that happened several months in the past. Writing your review will be easier if you have a quick document that you can look over before you head in to speak to the manager. Use a note app on your phone, a word-processing document on the computer, or pen and paper, depending on your preferences.

Example Self-Evaluation Template

When you fill out a self-evaluation template, you get to share information about your choices, actions, and performance. You have the chance to reflect on projects and share what you want to accomplish moving forward. The self-evaluation shows a boss how you view yourself concerning the company and the team you’re on.

Not all organizations offer a self-evaluation template to use. Some don’t have a formal structure for you to evaluate yourself. If that’s the case, the template below can be used to make getting your thoughts down a bit easier.

1. Which goals did you meet this year, and what helped you meet them?

2. Which of your accomplishments are you the proudest of?

3. Where did you come up short, and what lessons did you learn?

4. Which parts of your position have been the most challenging?

5. What parts of the position have interested you least and most?

6. What things do you plan to do differently moving forward and why?

7. What areas are you most interested in growing with the business?

8. How good are you at offering constructive feedback to others?

9. In what ways can your boss support you better?

10. Which company values do you exemplify, and in what ways?

Simply take a sheet of paper, write down your answers to the questions, and bring that with you to the next performance review. Be thorough when you fill out the self-evaluation templates to properly provide accurate and clear information about your performance.

In Conclusion

Writing your self-evaluation doesn’t have to be frightening when you realize it’s a way to remind your manager how much of an asset you are. Use a self-evaluation template to take down all of your thoughts and shows figures and facts that support what you have to say. It’s a great way to remember your successful moments and advocate for the career you deserve.