The Keys to a Successful Annual Review

Management & LeadershipCommunication & FeedbackManagers≈ 20 min

Key skill: HR interviews

Summary

Turn the often-dreaded annual review into a moment of progress: prepare the one-on-one conversation, guide the team member's self-assessment, build on their successes to set ambitious yet realistic goals, and strengthen the manager-team member relationship.

Target audience

Managers looking to build the fundamentals of management.

Learning objectives

Differentiate between the concepts of evaluation review, progress review, and development review.
Prepare and organise the annual review in advance to make it a valued, welcoming moment.
Help your team member self-assess by asking the right questions and build on their past successes.
Support your team member's progress by reviewing together their achievements, difficulties, and acquired or missing skills.

Module outline

StorytellingAn illustration of the dynamic between past and present in an annual review
ArticlesJob crafting and its three dimensions · The evolution of practices: from evaluation review to development review · Role transformations (evaluator manager → facilitating coach)
Expert videoHow to turn the annual review into a springboard for everyone, not a gruelling ordeal
AnchoringQuiz and True/False questions to dive deeper into the topic and cement what you've learned
Memo cardDownloadable coaching memo card: the key points from the expert video
CommitmentConcrete examples to help you define your own commitment
BonusA selection of videos to go further (TED, YouTube)

Models & methods

Distinction between evaluation, progress, and development reviews; guided self-assessment; manager-as-coach posture; job crafting.