Taking charge of your destiny at work

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According to Graham Bentley, staffing solution specialist, Kelly's managing director, appraising ourselves on a regular basis is crucial to our personal development and can mean the difference between a high and mediocre rating once our official appraisals have been concluded.

Hard and soft skill assessments

"The fact of the matter is there really is no need to wait on feedback from our employers before honing our strengths and working on our weaknesses. By conducting regular and honest personal assessments of both our hard and soft skills we can keep our own personal checks of our overall performance. Rather than leaving your development goals in the hands of your employers, take it on as a driver for your own career growth. By doing so, you ultimately have a say in your destiny in the world of work," advises Bentley.

To get started, Kelly recommends conducting a survey with close colleagues and even friends regarding their perceptions of your performance as an employee. If approaching them directly for their opinions is difficult, engage in an honest assessment of what you think their responses might be.

Try and identify common themes in this feedback that can possibly point to your strengths and weaknesses. Thereafter, take pen to paper and write your own profile which includes these insights. Once complete, this document can act as your very own "self-appraisal", giving you a clear idea of where improvements need to be made.

Take action

"While a self-appraisal is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself, the important thing is follow up. We advise employees to always look harder at meaningful ways they can improve on their skills. Considering a mentor, exploring studying further and the old adage of 'practice makes perfect' can see you sailing through your next appraisal with flying colours," explains Bentley.

Get to know yourself

With the plethora of self-help books lining the shelves of major retailers, getting to know ourselves has become something of a stock phrase. Nevertheless, this act of self-exploration is often seen as taking initiative by employers. "The fact of the matter is that if you are identifying ways to better your skills that will benefit yourself and your team, you are demonstrating leadership qualities and a drive to succeed. This act of self-reflection will set you apart as a mindful and valuable employee," says Bentley.

Kick-start your thinking

To get yourself into the mind set of self-evaluation, consider asking yourself probing questions such as:

• Does my self-discipline and motivation need work and if so, how can I improve on this?
  
• How can I improve on my approach to working with people?
  
• What influence do I carry at work and does this help me carry out my job successfully?
  
• What skills can I learn to better perform my day to day tasks?
  
• How do I tackle problem solving and can I be more effective in this area?
  
• Do I think positively about people, situations and challenges that may arise?
  
• How can I be more proactive in my position?



"By answering these types of questions with honesty and authenticity and by working to improve your skills may lead to an improvement in your performance and how others respond to you," concludes Bentley.

Kelly recommends being a step-ahead at your next work appraisal by having the same meeting with yourself at regular intervals in the months beforehand. Appraise yourself and take charge of your career.