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13 Self-Evaluation Examples To Help You Nail Your Performance Review
Ah, it’s that dreaded time of year again where you’re forced to write an assessment of your work performance … and unfortunately, not only can doing so be incredibly time-consuming, but trying to highlight all of your accomplishments (while concealing your weaknesses) can make you feel a bit like the Artful Dodger!
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered, anxious one. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how you can write a winning self-evaluation, discuss common mistakes to avoid (like hiding those aforementioned weaknesses), and give you lots of self-evaluation examples you can crib.
So, let’s jump right into it by taking a look at some of the things we recommend doing — as well as what you absolutely must avoid — when creating your self-evaluation.
The Dos and Don’ts of Self-Evaluations
Let’s face it: writing a self-evaluation isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. But with the right approach, it can actually be a valuable opportunity to showcase your achievements and areas of growth. To get the most out of the experience, you’ll want to keep these key dos and don’ts in mind as you prepare your self-evaluation.
Common mistakes to avoid in a self-evaluation
First things first, let’s talk about some of the most common mistakes you’ll want to steer clear of when writing your self-evaluation, such as:
Being too modest or too self-promoting.
When writing your self-evaluation, it’s important to strike the right balance between humility and confidence. Being too modest may make it seem like you lack confidence in your abilities, while being too self-promoting may come across as arrogant.
Likewise, you’ll also want to provide specific examples that demonstrate your achievements and contributions, while also being honest and objective about areas where you can improve. In the same vein, for those academic challenges that seem insurmountable, seeking professional paper writing services can be a strategic approach to ensure quality and success.
Focusing on tasks rather than outcomes.
One common mistake people make when creating self-evaluations is focusing too much on what they’ve done, rather than the results of those activities.
While of course it’s useful to describe the work you’ve done, it’s more important to demonstrate the impact your work has had on your employer.
So, instead of simply listing your tasks, remember to focus on the outcomes that you’ve achieved and how they align with your employer’s goals.
Blaming others for mistakes or shortcomings.
In a self-evaluation, it’s crucial you take responsibility for your own performance and not try to shift blame on others.
While it’s okay to acknowledge when external factors may have impacted your performance, it’s not productive to blame others for your own mistakes or shortcomings.
Instead, focus on what you’ve learned from any setbacks and how you plan to address them in the future.
Neglecting to acknowledge areas of growth or improvement.
A self-evaluation is not just about showcasing your achievements, but also about identifying areas where you can improve.
Neglecting to acknowledge areas of growth or improvement can make it seem like you’re not committed to personal and professional development.
So, be honest and transparent about areas where you can improve, and describe specific steps you plan to take to address them.
Writing a generic or unoriginal self-evaluation that lacks personality or detail.
Finally, one of the most common mistakes people make when creating their self-evaluation is to write something generic that lacks personality.
Your self-evaluation is an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths and contributions, so it’s important to make it as specific and personalized as possible.
Avoid using overly technical or jargon-heavy language, and instead, focus on describing your work in a way that’s accessible and engaging for your manager.
Tips for writing an honest and objective self-evaluation
Like we mentioned, when it comes to writing your self-evaluation, you’ll want to strike just the right balance between humility and confidence, and in this next section, you’ll find tips for doing just that!
Be specific and provide concrete examples of your achievements.
When writing your self-evaluation, you’ll want to provide concrete examples.
For instance, instead of simply saying “I completed my project on time,” describe the specific steps you took to meet your goals, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes you achieved.
This will help your manager to understand the impact of your work and the value you bring to your employer.
Acknowledge your areas of growth and discuss how you plan to improve.
It’s important to be honest and transparent about areas where you can improve.
Instead of trying to hide your weaknesses, acknowledge them and describe specific steps you plan to take to address them.
This demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional growth and your willingness to take ownership of your development.
Use data and metrics to back up your claims.
To make your self-evaluation more persuasive, use data to back up your claims.
For example, instead of simply saying “I increased sales,” provide specific numbers and percentages that demonstrate the impact of your work.
This will help your manager understand the value of your contributions and the impact you’ve had on the organization.
Avoid using overly technical or jargon-heavy language.
To ensure that your self-evaluation is engaging for your manager, you’ll want to describe your work in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.
This will help your manager to appreciate the value of your contributions and the impact you’ve had on the organization. It also makes it more likely your manager will read your evaluation in full, rather than merely skimming it!
Be honest and genuine in your writing.
We’ve touched on this before, but again, it’s important to avoid exaggerating your achievements or downplaying your weaknesses.
Instead, provide an honest and accurate assessment of your performance, and demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.
Your self-evaluation is an opportunity to showcase your achievements, set new goals, and demonstrate your potential to contribute to the success of your team and organization … to take advantage of that opportunity, honesty is key.
Self-evaluation best practices
To make the most of your self-evaluation, there are a few best practices you should keep in mind:
Start early and give yourself plenty of time to prepare and revise.
Writing a self-evaluation can be a time-consuming process, so it’s important to start early and give yourself plenty of time.
This will allow you to review your work and accomplishments throughout the year, as well as think deeply about your strengths and areas for growth.
By starting early, you’ll also avoid the stress and pressure that can come with rushing to complete your self-evaluation at the last minute.
Get feedback from a trusted colleague or mentor.
To ensure that your self-evaluation is accurate and effective, consider getting feedback from someone at work you trust.
This person can provide you with an outside perspective on your performance and help you identify areas where you can improve. They can also offer suggestions for how to frame your accomplishments in a way that’s persuasive and impactful.
Stay organized and keep track of your achievements and challenges throughout the year.
To make the process of writing a self-evaluation easier, it’s especially important to stay organized throughout the year.
This can include keeping a record of your accomplishments, taking notes on feedback and suggestions, and tracking your progress towards your goals.
By staying organized and keeping track of your work, you’ll have a wealth of information to draw from when it comes time to write your self-evaluation.
Stay focused on your goals and how you can contribute to the success of your team and organization.
Finally, while it’s important to highlight your individual achievements, it’s equally important to demonstrate how your work has contributed to the success of your employer.
By focusing on your goals and the bigger picture, you’ll be able to demonstrate your value to your manager and better position yourself at your organization.
Remember, your self-evaluation is an opportunity to sell yourself, while demonstrating your commitment to personal and professional growth. With the right approach and mindset, you can use it to your advantage and impress your manager during your performance review.
To help you do that, you’ll find our best self-evaluation examples in the next section. By tweaking the examples to make them relevant to your own work performance, you can save yourself time writing your self-evaluation.
However, remember that you’ll still want to be thorough and accurate in your assessment, so rather than using these examples as-is, plan to use them as a starting point and edit accordingly.
13 Examples of Self-Evaluation for Performance Reviews
As you prepare for your upcoming performance review, it’s important to take the time to demonstrate your value to your team and organization.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of areas to focus on in your self-evaluation, including communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and more.
In this section, we’ll provide both positive and negative examples of self-evaluations in each of these areas, to help you get a better sense of what you’ll want to include in your own self-evaluation.
1. Creativity
Positive Example:
“Over the past year, I’ve made a concerted effort to develop my creative skills and approach tasks in new and innovative ways. One of my proudest achievements was leading a brainstorming session that generated a series of compelling ideas for a new marketing campaign, which ultimately helped to boost engagement with our target audience.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I didn’t focus enough on developing my creativity, and I occasionally struggled to come up with new and innovative ideas. In the future, I plan to take a more proactive approach to generating new ideas, by seeking out inspiration and experimenting with new approaches to tasks and projects.”
2. Communication
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I made a conscious effort to improve my communication skills, both in written and verbal formats. I led a presentation to our executive team that effectively communicated the results of our latest marketing campaign and sought feedback from team members to improve my communication style.”
Negative Example:
“In looking back on the year, I realize that I could have improved my communication skills. I missed opportunities to share updates on my projects and to contribute to team discussions, but plan to take a more proactive approach to communication in the future by practicing active listening and speaking up more in meetings.”
3. Problem-Solving
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I’ve demonstrated a strong ability to approach problems with a creative and analytical mindset. I proactively identified potential issues with a project and suggested innovative solutions that helped the team to stay on track and achieve our goals, using collaboration and research to find the best solution.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I struggled to approach problems in a proactive manner. When addressing issues that arose, I often relied on tried-and-true solutions instead of taking the time to consider new, creative approaches. In the future, I plan to take a more proactive approach to problem-solving, by seeking out input from colleagues and considering a wider range of possible solutions.”
4. Teamwork
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I’ve made a conscious effort to be a collaborative and reliable team member. I took the initiative to organize several team-building activities and volunteered to take on extra work to support my colleagues during a particularly busy period. I believe that my commitment to teamwork has helped to improve team morale and drive our collective success.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have been a more effective team member. I struggled to balance my own priorities with the needs of the team and missed opportunities to support my colleagues. In the future, I plan to take a more proactive approach to teamwork, by seeking out opportunities to collaborate and offering my support when I can.”
5. Time Management
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I made a concerted effort to manage my time effectively and efficiently, while maintaining a high level of productivity. I prioritized my workload and created a schedule that allowed me to complete all my tasks on time and avoid procrastination. I also made a conscious effort to minimize distractions and stay focused on my goals.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I occasionally struggled with time management. At times, I found myself falling behind on my work and having to play catch-up. In the future, I plan to take a more disciplined approach to time management by creating a daily schedule and prioritizing my tasks more effectively.”
6. Leadership
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated strong leadership skills by motivating and inspiring my team to achieve our goals. I took the initiative to delegate tasks effectively, provided constructive feedback to team members, and modeled a positive and enthusiastic attitude. I believe that my commitment to leadership has helped to build a strong and effective team.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have demonstrated stronger leadership skills. At times, I struggled with delegating tasks effectively and providing constructive feedback to team members. In the future, I plan to focus on developing my leadership skills by seeking out feedback from team members and working to model a positive and effective leadership style.”
7. Adaptability
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated a strong ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle unexpected challenges with ease. I remained flexible and open to new ideas, and was able to pivot my approach to a project when new information emerged. I believe that my commitment to adaptability helped to keep the team moving forward even in the face of unexpected obstacles.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have been more adaptable in my approach to challenges. I struggled to pivot my approach when new information emerged, and sometimes became stuck in my ways. In the future, I plan to focus on developing my adaptability by seeking out new perspectives and being more open to changing circumstances.”
8. Emotional Intelligence
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated a strong ability to understand and manage my emotions, as well as those of my colleagues. I worked to cultivate strong relationships with team members, showing empathy and understanding when they faced challenges, and seeking to resolve conflicts in a positive and constructive manner. I believe that my commitment to emotional intelligence helped to create a positive and supportive team environment.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have demonstrated stronger emotional intelligence. I sometimes struggled to manage my own emotions, which may have caused tension in team interactions. In the future, I plan to focus on developing my emotional intelligence by seeking out resources for self-reflection and feedback, and working to build stronger relationships with my colleagues.”
9. Motivation
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated a strong level of motivation and commitment to achieving my goals. I set clear objectives for myself and pursued them with a high level of energy and enthusiasm, even in the face of challenges or setbacks. I believe that my motivation helped me to achieve significant success and contribute to the team’s overall performance.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I struggled with motivation at times, particularly during periods of stress or uncertainty. I may have missed opportunities to pursue my goals with a higher level of energy or enthusiasm, which could have impacted my performance. In the future, I plan to work on maintaining my motivation during challenging periods, by seeking out support from colleagues and mentors and focusing on the positive impact of my work.”
10. Productivity
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated a high level of productivity and achieved significant results in my work. I set clear priorities and goals for myself and worked diligently to meet or exceed them, often going above and beyond to support my colleagues. I believe my productivity helped to position me for future success.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have been more productive in my work. I sometimes struggled to manage my workload effectively and may have missed opportunities to contribute more to the team’s success. In the future, I plan to work on improving my productivity by setting more clear priorities and deadlines for myself, and seeking out support from colleagues and mentors when necessary.”
11. Performing Under Pressure
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I demonstrated a strong ability to perform under pressure and maintain my focus and composure in challenging situations. I was able to stay calm and level-headed, even in high-stress environments, and remained focused on achieving my goals. I believe that my ability to perform under pressure helped to make a positive contribution to the team’s overall performance.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have performed better under pressure in certain situations. I sometimes became anxious when faced with high-stress environments, which may have impacted my ability to focus and achieve my goals. In the future, I plan to work on developing my skills in managing stress and maintaining my focus during challenging situations.”
12. Achievements
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I achieved several significant milestones that contributed to the success of our team and organization. I played a key role in a project that resulted in a 20% increase in sales, and also took the initiative to develop a new process that streamlined our workflow and improved team efficiency. I believe my achievements have helped to demonstrate my value to the team and this organization.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I could have achieved more significant milestones. I sometimes struggled to set clear goals and objectives for myself, and may have missed opportunities to contribute to the team’s success. In the future, I plan to focus on setting more ambitious goals and working more proactively to achieve them.”
13. Weaknesses
Positive Example:
“Throughout the year, I made a concerted effort to identify and address my weaknesses in order to improve my performance. I sought feedback from colleagues and mentors and used it as an opportunity to reflect on areas where I needed to grow. I believe my willingness to acknowledge my weaknesses helped me to become a more effective team member.”
Negative Example:
“In reflecting on the year, I realize that I struggled to identify and address my weaknesses in a proactive manner. I may have missed opportunities to improve my skills and contribute more effectively to the team’s success. In the future, I plan to be more proactive in seeking out feedback and identifying areas where I can grow and improve.”
In Conclusion
We really hope you found this article super helpful and got some great tips for writing an awesome self-evaluation. As you gear up for your next performance review, we highly recommend taking advantage of all the resources we’ve shared here to reflect on your accomplishments and think about where you can improve.
Trust us, putting in the effort to write a thoughtful self-evaluation will definitely pay off in the long run, helping you achieve even greater success and be a more valuable member of your team. Best of luck to you!
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