🎯 Company Goals

Almost every company sets some goals that have to be completed before the end of the fiscal year. Usually, they are specific to technical achievements and development of new features, and usually, one extra goal is dedicated to personal improvements. Does that mean that their completion and a positive final evaluation automatically brings a promotion to the employee with that aspiration? It doesn’t. The promotion arrives when the employee knows that they are ready for it, understanding and already covering the responsibilities typical of a role higher up the career ladder. It comes also when the company has to fill a vacancy for that role and has enough budget, or plans, to approve the promotion.

📝 A Private Document to Keep Track of Each Achievement

The first day I become the direct manager of an employee, I create some documents. Among them are a shared one to keep track of our one-on-one discussions; a private one to keep track of all the employee’s achievements; positive feedback received from other people in different teams; well-done documents of analysis, and any other positive aspects of their role. Although it won’t be shared, I ask them to tell me when they receive feedback privately or from other people not directly connected to me.

⚠️ What If the Feedback Is Negative?

Yes, documents can also be used to keep track of negative feedback. Negative feedback has to be discussed and addressed as soon as possible. So I write it down to verify at some point that it has been discussed thoroughly, to transform it from negative feedback to an accomplishment.

🏆 Some Advantages

At the end of the year, in the final evaluation, the items I noted can be discussed and celebrated, recognising the positive changes that the employee paid in and those points that still need to be addressed, maybe as new goals for the next year.

The day I think that an employee is ready for a promotion, I will have a list of positive things that help me fill out the paper that has to be brought to higher management to get approval.

It seems obvious, but if memory is not your strong suit, it will help.

🤔 What About Yourself?

Write down when someone on your team appreciates your work, when you receive good feedback or a friendly email, or when you think that you have done something good for your team or the company. There will be a time when you’ll feel less appreciated or demotivated. At that moment, just reread what you’ve written, and you will remember how well you are doing and that there is, always, someone who appreciates your work.