Year End Review

A year end review is always a good idea, and you don't have to share with your boss. Distinct from the organizational annual performance review, a personal review should be done in the calmer days around Christmas and New Year. Some of the questions you can ask are these.

• For now, am I in the right position and the right organization? Careers develop over years. If the answer to this question is no, recalibration is required to eventually move to a new position (sideways, up, or even down) or new organization.
• Have I grown during the year? Improving skills, pursuing formal or informal learning, and exerting more influence are just examples of what we need to do to keep ourselves vital in our organizations.
• Did I connect sufficiently with my network? The pressure of meetings and deadlines often pushes less urgent communications to the side. Over time, this narrows our network of colleagues and gradually erodes business opportunities.
• Am I still part of the life of my family? Long hours at work seem to be valuable in advancing our careers. Unfortunately, a family or spouse may regard this dedication to the job as our neglecting a far more important set of relationships.
• What are the objectives that I really want to achieve next year? We are entitled to personal objectives that are private - not to be shared with our organization. Still, because writing down objectives usually means accomplishing objectives, also impose this discipline on private goals.