Prepare for your appraisal – and avoid making these three mistakes
The ‘medarbejderudviklingssamtale’ or ‘MUS-samtale’ is known by many names (in English: performance review, appraisal interview or simply an appraisal). Some companies conduct them several times a year; but regardless of frequency, the key to making the most of them remains the same.
Communicate clearly and assertively
She encourages you to look at yourself from the outside as the way you communicate during the meeting could make a big difference to the outcome.
She recommends using assertive communication, which she considers most effective. It’s a style that combines clarity with respect.
Camilla Bylling gives a number of examples:
Be specific
Instead of saying “I’d like more development opportunities”, say “I’d like to take a course in project management because it will enable me to take responsibility for larger tasks.”
Instead of saying “I struggle to complete my tasks”, be specific and say: “I need uninterrupted time to fully immerse myself in the task. Frequent interruptions put me out of flow and drain my energy. I need some focus time without meetings”.
Show appreciation for your manager’s perspective
“I understand that the budget is limited, but I believe this course would create great value for the department.” Or say: “I know that we’re extremely busy at the moment and that many tasks need to be handled. Would it be possible to soften my deadlines and can I get help to prioritise my tasks?”
Create dialogue between you
If your manager turns your request down, follow up with an open question like: “What will it take for my requests to be met at a later stage?” If your manager rejects your ideas or doesn't agree, you may ask: “Do you have any ideas on how I may prioritise my work and find time for reflection?”
In case you don’t have a good relationship with your manager, or he or she is the very reason why you experience challenges with your well-being and motivation, Camilla encourages you to reach out to your union representative, HR or Finansforbundet before your appraisal.
Three pitfalls to avoid in your communication
The way you communicate could make it more difficult to achieve your goals. Here are three approaches not to take:
Being passive
If you fail to express your wishes, you risk being overlooked. Example: “I guess it’s okay if the course is outside the budget.”
Being aggressive
Focusing only on your own needs without taking the company into account could be met with resistance. Example: "I want this course because I want to develop myself!"
Being passive-aggressive
Expressing your frustration indirectly could end up damaging your relationship with your manager. Example: “It doesn't matter what I say, my wishes won’t be heard anyway.”
Use strong arguments
To make you stand stronger in the negotiations, it’s important that you are able to document your worth to the company.
“Be sure to have prepared examples to showcase your contributions in the past year,” says Camilla Bylling. This could be:
- Successful collaborations you formed with colleagues or external partners
- Results you created and measurable data
- Additional tasks you took responsibility for
- New skills you acquired and their worth to the company
- Innovations or improvements you implemented
Come up with a best alternative
If your manager is unable to fully meet your requests, despite your strong arguments, you may propose alternatives.
Perhaps the course can be split over two budget periods, or you can get an internal mentor if external options are unrealistic at present.
“A well-prepared performance review could be an important milestone for your well-being and development. Being prepared for the meeting increases your chances of furthering your development and ensuring that your requests are taken seriously.”