Ace Your Next Performance Review With These Top Tips

Ace Your Next Performance Review With These Top TipsAce Your Next Performance Review With These Top TipsGo into your next wertmiger zuwachs evaluation prepared to wow.Performance evaluations can be a nerve-racking experience, especially if youre unsure how you fared over the past year. However, when done right, your review can be a valuable tool for receiving constructive feedback and taking your career to the next level.As a career-driven professional, its up to you to make the most of this evaluation. Here are some tips to help youoptimize your review and get you on the right foot.Familiarize yourself with the process.Check with your boss or human resources to find out if anythings changed about the process since last year. If youre new to the company, look on Glassdoor and speak to your HR department and colleagues to learn how the company conducts their evaluations and what is expected of you.Perform a self-assessment.Set aside time to honestly evaluate your performance for the p ast year. Which goals did you meet, exceed or fall a little short on? Even the top performers have room for improvement. What areas would you like to improve in the coming year?Document your achievements.Where have you excelled? What challenges have you overcome? Have you taken on more responsibility, bigger projects or more valuable clients for the organization? Pull out your brag sheet and review your list of contributions and accomplishments for the past year. If you havent updated this document in a while, nows the time to do so.Review last years evaluation.Whats changed since the last time you were evaluated? Has your job, level of responsibility or boss changed? Did you focus on building or improving a particular skill over the course of the year? Read through your previous evaluation and pay special attention to the comments left by your manager. How has this feedback influenced your work over the past year?Consider your career objectives.Where would you like to go next in yo ur career? Which skills do you need to build or experience do you need to gain in reservierung to achieve those goals? How does your current position tie into these long-term plans? Use this information to guide the conversation around your professional development objectives for the next year.Set goals for the discussion. What are you looking to get out of this conversation? If youre uncertain how you stack up against your peers, this is your opportunity to ask for direct feedback. If your focus has been on improving a particular skill, find out if your hard work is paying off.Initiate topics. Dont expect your manager to do all the work. Bring a list of questions or topics youd like to cover during the course of your review. Bring your brag sheet to the review and be prepared to discuss how youve provided value to the organization throughout the year.If youre planning to ask for a raise, first check with human resources to find out when the company typically reviews employees compe nsation packages. Some organizations designate a separate time of year for salary reviews because they dont want it to affect how employees and managers rate each other or impede an open conversation about the employees performance. Prepare to hear some hard truths. Enter this discussion with an open mind. Remember, constructive feedback is one of the greatest gifts your manager can ever provide if youre willing to listen. You cant improve your performance if you dont know where youre currently falling short. Work with your manager to identify your performance goals and build a development plan.Follow up. Dont leave the meeting until you and your manager have discussed some actionable next steps. If youre assigned any follow-up items, make sure you complete them in a timely manner.

This is the best morning ritual 3 secrets from research

This is the best morning bung 3 secrets from researchThis is the best morning ritual 3 secrets from researchA morning ritual suresoundsnice (if it didnt, you wouldnt be reading this) but whats the point of one? Whats it even supposed to accomplish?No, you dont have to eat kale or mechanistically begin planning your day according to some odd formula. Youre human. The first thing you need to do is get your head on straight. Get your feelings sorted. Your mood.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraResearch shows yourmood in the morningaffects your productivity all dayResearchers found that employees moods when they clocked intended to affect how they felt the rest of the day. Early mood was linked to their perceptions of customers and to how they reacted to customers moods.And most important to managers, employee mood had a clear impact on wertmiger zuwachs, including both how much work employees did and how well they did it.Seriously, your mood is numero uno. Think you can ignore your feelings or fight them? Think again, Spock.FromThe Antidote Happiness for People Who Cant Stand Positive Thinkingwhen experimental subjects are told of an unhappy event, but then instructed to tryleidto feel sad about it, they end up feeling worse than people who are informed of the event, but given no instructions about how to feel. In another study, when patients who were suffering from panic disorders listened to relaxation tapes, their hearts beat faster than patients who listened to audiobooks with no explicitly relaxing content. Bereaved people who make the most effort to avoid feeling grief, research suggests, take the longest to recover from their loss.In fact, one of the biggest reasons you procrastinate is because of negative feelings.FromTemptation Finding Self-Control in an Age of Excessfar and away the most procrastination occurred among the bad-mood students who believe d their mood could be changed and who had access to fun distractions. This group spent nearly 14 of their 15 minutes of prep time goofing offSo what does a morning ritual need to contain to put you in the right frame of mind to be productive? And happy? (Yeah, happy is important. This is a morning ritual, not a mourning ritual.) Just remember PCOPurposeControlOptimismWhy these three? What do they do? How do you turn these three nouns into a Tyrannosaur of a morning ritual that will make the Earth tremble at your approach?Im so glad you asked1) Feel A Sense Of PurposeYou know whats great first thing in the morning? To feelyoure on a mission. You have a destiny. Your life has meaning. Youre beginning an epic quest, Frodo.And as motivation master and bestselling author, Dan Pinkexplains, feeling a sense of purpose is one of the most motivating things in the known universe. HeresDanPurpose is, Am I doing something in tafelgeschirr of a cause larger than myself, or, at the very least, am I making a contribution in my own world?And feeling your life has purpose and meaningnot only makes you feel alive, it alsokeepsyou alive.Researchers at Tohoku University in Japan did a 7 year study of over 43,000 adults age 40 to 79 asking if they had ikigai (a Japanese term for meaning in life) and then tracked their health. People with ikigai were much mora likely to be alive 7 years later.ViaPursuing the Good Life 100 Reflections on Positive PsychologyEven when likely confounds were taken into account, ikigai predicted who was still alive after 7 years. Said anotherway, 95% of respondents who reported a sense of meaning in their lives were alive 7 years after the initial survey versus about 83% of those who reported no sense of meaning in their lives.Feeling motivated and living longer isnt enough for you? Seriously? Okay,how about this? Itllmake you sexyStudy 2 also found an interaction between physical attractiveness and meaning in life, with more meaning in life contributing to greater interpersonal appeal for those of low and average physical attractiveness.So how do you find purpose withoutgetting a new job working for a charity?Duke professor Dan Ariely suggests reframing your experience. You might not be able to changewhatyou have to do but you can changehowyou see it. And when you look at it through the lens of how it can help others, youll often find more motivation.FromPayoff The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivationsif we are feeling bored and unmotivated, we can ask ourselves How is the work Im doing helping someone down the road? What meaning can I find here? With this type of mind-set, chances are that we will be able to find a positive answer.The work wontchange. Yourperspectivecan.Youre not filling out boring paperwork. Youre helping people get insurance that could save their lives. Focus on how you already help others.(To learn more tips on living an awesome life, check out my bookhere.)Okay, youre filled with purpose. But its the thoug ht that counts only applies to gifts. How do you get yourself in the mood to do something about it?2) Feel In ControlFeeling out of control gets celebrated in pop songs but doesnt fare as well in performance reviews or happiness research. (College is over. Sorry.) You want to be happy? Feeling in control is key.FromThe Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy, and WisePeople with a sense of control in their lives, in both career and relationship, were 66 percent more likely to report feeling happy and satisfied. (Chou and Chi 2001)It has this otherwonderful side effectI like to call not dyingLimited perceived control over life circumstances is associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality, independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors, and particularly among those at apparently low risk.It helps you get stuff accomplished too.FromThe Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy, and WiseResearch comparing students of similar ability found that the feature that dist inguishes those who maintain a strong work ethic in their studies from those who give up is a sense of control. Those who expressed a sense of control received significantly higher grades than those who do not. (Mendoza 1999)Okay, you get it. Feeling in control in the morning beats eating your Wheaties. But how do you do it?Set goals for the day ahead. Havingconcretegoals was correlated with huge increases in confidence and feelings of control.FromThe 100 Simple Secrets of Successful PeoplePeople who construct their goals in concrete terms are 50 percent more likely to feel confident they will attain their goals and 32 percent more likely to feel in control of their lives. Howatt 1999And this isnt some random connection its working at the neuroscience level. Your brain chills out when you make decisions and set goals. Start the day calm, not crazed.FromThe Upward SpiralMaking decisions includes creating intentions and setting goals - all three are part of the same neural circuitry and engage the prefrontal cortex in a positive way, reducing worry and anxiety. Making decisions also helps overcome striatum activity, which usually pulls you toward negative impulses and routines. Finally, making decisions changes your perception of the world - finding solutions to your problems and calming the limbic system.(To learn the four rituals neuroscience says will make you happy, clickhere.)Alright, youve set your goals and you feel in control. But its still early and youre gonna need more than a feeling of calm. You need some energy. Wheres that going to come from?3) Feel OptimisticResearchers tested soldiers on endurance. Turns out it had a lot more to do with their head than their legs. The researchers put it like thisBoth hope and despair are self-fulfilling prophecies.FromMaximum Brainpower Challenging the Brain for Health and Wisdomthe brain does not want the body to expend its resources unless we have a reasonable chance of success. Our physical strength is not accessible to us if the brain does not believe in the outcome, because the worst possible thing for humans to do is to expend all of our resources and fail. If we do not believe we can make it, we will not get the resources we need to make it. The moment we believe, the gates are opened, and a flood of energy is unleashed. Both hope and despair are self-fulfilling prophecies.Scientific research has come up with a very longlist of benefits to being optimistic. Here are just a fewOptimism is associated withbetterhealthand longerlife.Research has shownthat practicing optimism and gratitudecauses (not just correlates with) an increase in happiness.The army teaches soldiers to be optimistic becauseit makes them tougher and more persistent.Being socially optimistic - expecting people to like you - makes people like you more.Expecting a positive outcome from negotiations made groupsmore likely to come to a deal and to be happy with it.Optimists are luckier.Research showsby thinking positi vely they persevere and create more opportunities for themselves.Soyou might think you should take a few minutes in the morning to look in the bathroom mirror and say positive things to yourself. Too bad that doesnt work at all.FromLearned OptimismPessimists can, in fact, learn to be optimists, and not through mindless devices like whistling a happy tune or mouthing platitudes (Every day, in every way, Im getting better and better), but by learning a new set of cognitive skills We have found that merely repeating positive statements to yourself does not raise mood or achievement very much, if at all.So what does? Mental contrastingand implementation intentions.In English think about your goal, consider the obstacles, and then figure out how you might be able to overcome them. Youre more hopefuland persistentwhen youve considered the problems ahead and made a plan.ViaUngifted Intelligence RedefinedA recent study by Duckworth, Heidi Grant Halvorson, Benjamin Loew, Oettingen, and Gollw itzer asked a group of high school students preparing for the high-stakes, standardized Preliminary SAT (PSAT) to complete athirty-minute written intervention that involved mental contrasting (vividly imagining the goal and writing down possible obstacles) with implementation intentions (coming up with two if-then contingency plans if an obstacle presents itself). They found that students undergoing the intervention completed more than 60 percent more practice questions on the PSAT compared to a placebo control group who were instead asked to write about an influential person or event in their life.(To learn the 4 scientific secretsthat will make you lucky, clickhere.)So you know how to PCO your way to a great morning. Lets round up what weve learned and discovera simple ritual todo with someone you lovethat provides big, big benefits in the morningSum UpHeres the best morning ritualFeel A Sense Of Purpose Ask, How does what I do benefit others? (Selfish people are doomed to lousy m ornings.)Feel In ControlSet goals for the day. (Your brain will thank you.)Feel OptimisticConsider the obstacles to your goals and plan ahead. (I am optimistic that one day I will find a funny joke to put in these parentheses.)So whats awonderfulritual with big benefits that you can do with someone special? Well, you may already be doing itA hug and a kiss.Hardly groundbreaking, I know, but you may be skipping this vital ritual and that isan affront to science. And to your happiness.Hugs are powerful. Sometimes they tell someone you love them even when youre not ready to say the words. And they have impressive effects on stress - for both hugger and huggee.FromThe Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy, and WiseA brief hug with a loved one reduced the effects of stress on blood pressure and heart rate by half. (University of North Carolina 2003)And a morning kiss goodbye canextend your life and boost your salary by 30%. (Clickhereto learn how to be a better kisser.)ViaThe Sci ence of Kissing What Our Lips Are Telling UsA ten-year psychology study undertaken in Germany during the 1980s found thatmen who kissed their wives before leaving for work lived, on average, five years longer, earning 20 to 30 percent more than peers who left without a peck good-bye. The researchers also reported that not kissing ones wife before leaving in the morning increased the possibility of a car accident by 50 percent.Psychologists do not believe its the kiss itself that accounts for the difference but rather that kissers were likely to begin the day with a positive attitude, leading to a healthier lifestyle.So some PCO in the morning can lead you to a happy, productive day.Or just give somebody a big hug and a kiss. It always makes me optimistic about the future. And love is a pretty good purpose in life. That said, too much hugging and kissingcan getout of controlBut thats a good thing.Join over 290,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.This article first appe ared on Bakadesuyo.com.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Have More Confidence in Yourself - The Muse

How to Have More Confidence in Yourself - The MuseHow to Have More Confidence in Yourself So, what exactly do you do? a new acquaintance asked me while I sipped cheap chardonnay at yet anotzu sich one of my husbands work functions.I took a deep breath and braced myself to spit out the canned response Id repeated so many times before. I work for myself as a freelance writer, I replied, pausing to take a look at the confused face Id become so used to seeing in response to my answer- a face that conveys the messages, Oh, so you dont really work and Hey, whats daytime TV like these days? simultaneously in one simple, judgmental look. Oh, so youre, like, writing a book? she pressed, obviously hoping to get extra clarification on how I managed to score a career as a professional lazy person at such a young age. No, not at all, I responded, subtly scanning the room for how I could manage to snag another glass of free wine without looking rude, The majority of my work is writing career advic e to help people find jobs they love and then succeed at them. She paused, bit her lip, and then looked at me as if I had just spoken Gibberish. Well, how do you know enough to write that? she asked, How can you offer career advice when you dont have a real job? Immediately, I was irked by her question. But, not for the reason you might be thinking. I wasnt irritated because she had flat out insulted me and my career choices. I wasnt even all that mad about the fact that she was keeping me from that buffet table of lukewarm chicken skewers and mora wine (alright, that was a little agitating).No, instead, I found myself most annoyed by the fact that she had just put into words all of those nagging thoughts that had been keeping me awake at night How am I qualified to do what I do? How did I go from reading other peoples advice to writing it? What if everything Im telling people is wrong?Call it imposter syndrome, call it a lack of confidence, or call it fishing for compliments. Slap whatever label you want on it, but Ill just put it all out there I dont always know how I got here. True story I almost choked on my afternoon Diet Coke the first time an article cited me as a career expert.But, that doesnt change the fact that people really do listen and value my suggestions and opinions. Even more, people seem to respect them. Scratch that, not seems, but do. And I know this because I receive numerous emails from readers who ask me for further advice about a specific topic I wrote about because my words connected with them in a way they hadnt experienced before. That during a long job search or a stressful day at work, what I said to someone helped him or her feel better and ready to tackle the next challenge. And thats my job in a nutshell- making people feel more confident about their career choices and chosen paths. While you may not be a writer like me, Im guessing youve still experienced similar feelings of inadequacy at times. Perhaps you recently moved into a management role. Or, maybe your department has experienced a great deal of turnover, and youre now the most senior person there- despite still feeling like a total newbie. That feeling of self-doubt can be universal. Lets face it- making the transition from being the one asking the questions to the one answering them can be strange, and its usually enough to inspire a hefty amount of self-deprecating thoughts. But, Im here to remind you (and, admittedly, myself) that- despite what that critical voice in your brain has to say- youre good at what you do. And, that means youre more than qualified to share your knowledge and your expertise.Think about it this way If people are flocking to you to get your thoughts, insights, and opinions, theres likely a pretty solid reason behind that- you obviously look like you know what youre doing. Either that, or youre one heck of a convincing actor. Believe me, I get it- theres a little sense of arrogance that comes along with declaring, Hey, I m great at what I do And, I know that it can feel totally unnatural to think of yourself as an expert or a thought leader in your chosen field.However, in those moments when you feel like a no-good, no-talent hack who should be receiving instructions- rather than giving them- remember that youre smart, youre resourceful, and you deserve to be respected and commended for the things you know and have accomplished. You dont need to know it all in order to know something.Yes, Ill likely always feel tempted to be the first to scoff or roll my eyes whenever Im referred to as a career expert. But, Im going to make my best effort to stop shying away from that acknowledgement and instead own that respect and recognition. And, I hope youll join me in feeling good about the fact that- while youre by no means perfect- that doesnt mean you cant be admired.Photo of person at work courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.