GUIDELINE 2

GET THE FEEDBACK YOU NEED

You will probably get six- and/or twelve-month reviews in most jobs, but those reviews usually feel few and far between. And when they come, they often don’t give you the kind of accurate, specific, and timely feedback you need to keep moving in the right direction.

The best kind of feedback you can get is day-to-day performance coaching from a manager you trust and respect. If you are not getting that from your manager, you need to give it to yourself. Here’s a good method:

1.   When you accomplish a goal, note the achievement in your calendar (or similar organizer).

2.   Detail what you did well, so you can repeat the success.

3.   Now take a moment to evaluate.

—  Are there any ways to improve how you accomplished the goal?

—  Are there any obvious errors?

—  What can you do next time to achieve a higher level of quality?

—  Can you get it done smarter? Faster? More efficiently? More effectively?

—  What skill development might you pursue in order to do a better job next time?