Time for your personal annual report

 

As 2010 comes to an end, we start to think about 2011 and what our resolutions and goals will be. What most of us don’t do is to assess our performance in the outgoing year and what to do better in the New Year. So, what does your annual report look like? Here are some areas to consider as you reflect.

How bold your goals were: If you set resolutions instead of goals you probably gave up on them by end January! If you set proper goals how many did you achieve? How easily did you achieve them? How many did you ignore because they were hard and unrealistic? What support did you get in the pursuit of these goals?

What your successes were: What was your measure of success for the goals? If you did not specifically define these from the start think back to where you were 12 months ago and assess broadly what might represent progress; perhaps,  a promotion, higher level responsibility at work, a performance award, new mentors?  An interview for that bigger job?

What constrained you: Constraints are anything that stopped you from making progress and might be self-made such as poor habits or lack of focus. They could also have been things outside your control such as your manager’s decision that did not favour you or perhaps not getting that loan to pay for that course you wanted to do this year. How did you attempt to overcome these constraints?

Opportunities that came your way : Opportunity isn’t always ‘glitz and glamour’; Often it’s what comes because of hard work and preparedness. What new interesting assignments did you get to work on?. What opportunities did you underutilise?.  What did you miss out on because you were unprepared? What did you ignore that you shouldn’t have? What chances did you create yourself?

What risks did you take: What ‘unusual’ actions did you take to achieve your goals? What paid off and what didn’t? How did you bounce back from any unanticipated obstacles? Did you make decisions and choices intentionally or just act ‘in the moment’? What were the consequences? Which of your assumptions did not hold?  How did these impact on progress you made?

How better have you become: To do better, you have become better; how have you improved as a person and professional? How better are your habits? What poor behaviours have you overcome? How has your mindset improved? How accountable are you to yourself and others? How consistently do you pursue what matters? How conscious have you become of your choices?

How progress focussed are you: Allocate a performance rating on the above on a scale of 1 to 10 for each area. Score yourself. What was your total? Where are you doing well? where do you need improving? What can you build on?

Now take your action: Write down 3 successes and 3 lessons you’ll take into 2011