1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Hey, listeners, this is Laura, your host of the Before 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: Breakfast podcast. As many of you know, I publish five 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: new episodes of Before Breakfast every week. A few years ago, 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: during the pandemic, I hosted a short daily podcast called 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: The New Corner Office. I shared strategies for working productively 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: and happily from home. After life started to get back 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: to normal, I stopped recording new episodes. However, I've kept 8 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: sharing one of those existing New Corner Office episodes each week, 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: usually on Sundays, with the Before Breakfast audience. Lately, I 10 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: have realized that we've moved enough past those times that 11 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: the advice is starting to feel a little less useful, 12 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: so I won't be republishing any more New Corner Office 13 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: episodes in this feed. However, I know that listening to 14 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: this show has become a daily habit for many people. 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: To keep something in your feed on Saturdays and Sundays, 16 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: I'll republish an earlier episode of Before Breakfast. You can 17 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: always tell if something is a repeat episode, because I'll 18 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: label it second Cup. I have published over one thousand 19 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast episodes since twenty nineteen, so it's possible that 20 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: you missed a few and Second Cup gives you a 21 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: chance to listen, but if you only want new episodes, 22 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: feel free to skip past anything labeled Second Cup. I'll 23 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: still be releasing new Before Breakfast episodes every weekday morning. 24 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: Hopefully you can find a tip that will help you 25 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: take your day from great to awesome. I'd love to 26 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: hear about anything you've tried in your life. Feel free 27 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: to reach out to me at Laura at Laura vandercam 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, 29 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: and here's to making the most of our time. Welcome 30 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, This 31 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. We're coming 32 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: into the fourth quarter of the year, and today's tip 33 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: is about how to make sure your end of year 34 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: review is a fabulous one. Now. I know that a 35 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: number of organizations are reforming the annual review process, and 36 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: for good reason, everyone and younger workers in particular, wants 37 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: frequent feedback. No one should have to wait until November 38 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: or December to figure out how they're doing and to 39 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: have a meaningful conversation about career progress. I also have 40 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: doubts about how meaningful an annual conversation can be since 41 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: people have short memories, a big wins scored in February 42 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: has much less effect on an annual review then a 43 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: big win or a big mistake made in October or November. 44 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: In practice, an annual review is often a thirty day 45 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:15,679 Speaker 1: review masquerading as something more comprehensive. However, I know many 46 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: organizations are sticking with the annual review process, and if 47 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: this includes yours, then you have a great opportunity over 48 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: the next few weeks to shape the narrative. Here's how 49 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: you can do this. First, remember that everyone likes numbers, 50 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: even when misused. Numbers seem to make an objective case. 51 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: So look back over the past year and see what 52 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: numbers you can generate to show your impact. Maybe you 53 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: launched a new section on your company's website and traffic 54 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: is indeed up. The scientists among us might note that 55 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: correlation is not causation, but for your purposes, this is 56 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: a rise worth noting. Maybe in April you killed a 57 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: recurring meeting that wasn't accomplishing anything. Out how much money 58 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: this has saved your company over the year. Five highly 59 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: paid people's salaries for an hour a week over seven 60 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: months adds up. Maybe you've managed to keep everyone on 61 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: your team working with you all year. This one hundred 62 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: percent annual retention rate has prevented all kinds of turnover costs, 63 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: costs you might be able to quantify by looking at 64 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: other teams, so highlight this too. Even people who aren't 65 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: directly in charge of P and L can show numerical 66 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: impact if they try second, collect testimonials and feedback. Ideally, 67 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: your manager is doing this simultaneously, and she's talking with 68 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: everyone you work with to see what they think you're 69 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: excelling at and what you can improve upon. But no 70 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: one will do as thorough a job as you will, 71 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: and most managers aren't going to have these conversations until 72 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 1: right before the deadline. So go ahead and talk to 73 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: people now ahead of schedule and first. Candid conversations are 74 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: good in general at any point. I mean, wouldn't it 75 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: be great to learn that the team member who seems 76 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: to never respond to your emails would much prefer to 77 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: communicate via text. Well, now you know, even if this 78 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: has little to do with your actual performance. But the 79 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: real upside is that if you're talking with everyone before 80 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: they officially provide three hundred and sixty degree feedback. You 81 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: can shape the narrative. The sad truth is that most 82 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: of us are stuck in our own little worlds. We 83 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: aren't thinking that much about other people until we're forced 84 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: to cough something up. If you nudge that process along, 85 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: you can remind people of what's awesome about you, or 86 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: at least what you'd like the powers that be to know, 87 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: third solve any glaring problems. I'd like to think we're 88 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: all aware of our weaknesses, but sometimes we aren't, and 89 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: sometimes we don't think these weaknesses matter as much as 90 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: other people think they do. And maybe your conversations with 91 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: team members will surface issues that are hindering productivity. If 92 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: you think about these issues now, you can address them 93 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: in the window before your annual review. Perhaps a team 94 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: member mentions that your habit of starting and ending meetings 95 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: late is interfering with her ability to schedule things afterwards. Now, 96 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: ten minutes isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme 97 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: of things. But here's the thing. In generally positive performance reviews, 98 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: people tend to seize on small problems just to show 99 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: their being thorough. Rather than be upset about this, you 100 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: can do something about any small complaints you learn about 101 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: in the next few weeks. If you can show progress 102 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: that you are addressing these issues, that's a much better 103 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: story than just sticking your head in the sand. Finally, 104 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 1: figure out what you'd like to ask for. While managers 105 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: are supposed to be thinking about your career progress and 106 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: your compensation, they can't know exactly what you'd like if 107 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: you don't tell them. So. If you'd like to be 108 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: promoted in the next year, say so. If you'd like 109 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: to get a larger raise, well, ask what you'd need 110 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: to do for your manager to be comfortable with that. 111 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: Propose some ideas. Everyone loves solutions, so make sure you 112 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: have several options brainstormed ahead of time. If you do 113 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: these steps, there's a good chance you'll have your best 114 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: review ever. So if you're coming up on in an 115 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: annual review, spend some time today generating numbers, having conversations, 116 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: and brainstorming future possibilities. In the meantime, This is Laura. 117 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 118 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 119 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 120 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter. Facebook and Instagram. At 121 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod that's b the number four, then Breakfast pod. 122 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast. 123 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: At iHeartMedia that before Breakfast is spelled out with all 124 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: the letters. Thanks so much, should I look forward to 125 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartRadio. 126 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 127 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.