Is it that time of the year already?

Can you believe we are already into a new year and will have to think about completing a performance appraisal again? As painful an exercise as this may be, I wouldn't downplay the performance appraisal. In some organizations raises are tied to how well you do and it is also a record that is kept on your personnel file.

One of the hardest questions for me on my performance appraisal is the one about my goals. I never know what to put down. Normally, I put something about needing to get my filing system up to date, but I think I may have missed the point when I have done that. Here are some things that might help you start thinking about what your goals could be:

• Sometimes your goals are tied into your boss's goals. Think about what your boss needs to get done and how you can help him or her accomplish that and work that into your goals.
  
• Think about some things that you need to get done and how you will do it, then set a goal to get it done.
  
• Think about some things that you would like to get done and how you can accomplish it and put that down as a goal.

The next worse section is the self evaluation questions. I usually rate myself right down the middle. After all, I wouldn't want to rate myself too high or someone might think I think too highly of myself, but I don't want to rate myself too low or what would that look like? I think we should not underestimate the contribution we are making to our company's success and should evaluate ourselves accordingly. If you do evaluate yourself high, be prepared to explain why and whatever you do, work like you say and do everything to the best of your ability.

The section on key accomplishments is another area that stumps me. I work from day to day and sometimes what I did last month is old news and then I am off to my next task so I have a hard time remembering what I did throughout the year. What I have started doing is keeping a collection of notes and e-mails. When I receive a complimentary note from my boss or from a client, I save it so when it comes time to think back, I have a handy record of something I have done well and that helps me to remember what some of my key accomplishments are. We sometimes have a hard time acknowledging the things we do as something special so getting another person's perspective can help us see what we do in a different light.

I almost feel like laughing when it comes to the question about personal development -- who has time for that? But you shouldn't neglect taking care of your own development. We really don't have an excuse because it is becoming increasingly easy to take courses online. All you need is to put some time aside and close your door, or put some earphones on, and plug into your computer and learn. I have had great experiences learning online in interactive courses. As wonderful as online learning can be, going to a live conference or seminar with other assistants is something that you should try to do a few times a year. I think I am just not used to having to think about me. My job is so centered around my boss and helping him succeed that I forget about me and what I need for my career.

Maybe the performance appraisal won't be so bad after all. So, do I get my raise yet?

A Group Called Skeleton Staff (and more...)

I was part of the “skeleton staff” in my office between Christmas and New Year’s so I have not had a continuous break, but came in the few working days last week.

We are a very interesting group of people us “skeleton staffers”. We wore jeans! Don’t tell anyone as that is not allowed on any day other than Friday. We are obedient in this rule at every other time of the year, but at this in-between time we are emboldened because we are the “skeletons” and we know we can get away with it.

At one place I worked they even provided pizza and pop to reward us for this sacrifice we were making so everyone else could take the time off. Yes, we are a very humble group of volunteers! You should consider joining us next year. Of course if you do then we will probably stay home so you will be better able to appreciate this special role you can play in your office.

A New Year and Lots of Work

As we begin this New Year there is a lot of work for the administrative assistant. We need to open new administrative files for 2008. We have to finish off any year-end expense reports and any other accounting that needs to be entered to close off 2007, and we have to do our regular work. It will be a busy week when we get back to work in 2008.

Performance Appraisals and the New Year

Something we should start thinking about as we start this New Year is our next performance review.

I don't look forward to filling out my performance appraisal form. Especially the self evaluation part. My mind seems to go completely blank when it comes to things I have achieved and what goals I want to accomplish. It reminds me of when I was pregnant and I went to a doctor’s appointment. The doctor would ask me if I had any questions, and I knew I did, but just when he asked me my mind went blank. All the books I had read recommended that you write your questions down and bring them with you. Simple, but effective.

I read of a similar idea in regards to the performance review in an article entitled, "The Performance Review: An Opportunity in Disguise" (Domeyer, Diane, OfficePro, November/December, p. 5).

The author recommends one way to prepare in advance of a performance review would be to keep a folder with emails, notes and reminders of your accomplishments throughout the year.

After reading the article I just happened to get a nice email from a client and thought that this email was something that I should keep for appraisal time. What I have decided to do to keep track of these types of emails is to open a subfolder in Outlook called Performance Review. In the future I will drag and drop these into this folder as a reminder of comments people have made about my performance and also some of my accomplishments. For instance, if I arrange a successful conference or if I'm involved in a project that I am proud of, I will send myself a short reminder email detailing that, which I can then drag and drop into my Performance Review subfolder. This will be a reminder system for me and when it comes time for my next review then I can read over these emails and remind myself of some of my accomplishments so I will be better equipped to fill out a more thorough and well thought out self evaluation.

If you get a chance to read the article, I would recommend it.1

Resolutions and Reflection!

I also received a Get Organized Now e-Newsletter and I thought I would pass an article from it on to you at this time of resolutions and reflection. Maria Garcia has written 11 tips in her article "Your Life...Simplified". Please click here to read the article on her website (you need to scroll down just a bit to see the article).

I thought it was an appropriate check list as we start this New Year to reflect and think about our work and home lives and how we can better organize and de-stress our lives.

Happy New Year everyone and remember to date all your letters and documents "2008". I find the first few weeks of the New Year will be the time I will forget. A good suggestion would be to write "2008" on a yellow sticky and stick it on your computer where you can see it as a reminder.

If you are interested in subscribing to the Get Organized Now e-Newsletter, please click here.

1 Domeyer, Diane, ``The Performance Review: An Opportunity in Disguise``, OfficePro Magazine, November/December, p. 5, A publication of IAAP
2 Garcia, Maria, "Your Life...Simplified", Get Organized Now e-Newsletter (accessed December 30, 2007)