Your manager says, “You’ve had a great year.” That’s a good opening. What would you like them to do with that information? Before the meeting, decide which results you want them to remember and what you want to leave with.
Build your review in five moves
- 01
Pick three results
Choose three examples from the review period. Start with the one that best reflects the work you want to do more of.
- 02
Attach evidence
For each result, write what was happening, what you contributed, and what changed. Note where you can verify it.
- 03
Name your growth
Identify a skill you strengthened, where you used it, and what you want to practice next.
- 04
Prepare two questions
Ask which result mattered most to your manager and what they’d need to see before recommending you for more responsibility.
- 05
Make one ask
Ask for a specific opportunity, a decision, or clear criteria and a date to revisit them.
What a strong example looks like
Say you helped fix a recurring handoff issue. Here’s a fictional example you can adapt.
- What I did
I added a named owner to each request and trained the team on the new handoff.
- What changed
Overnight delays fell from six in the two weeks before the pilot to two during the two-week pilot.
- What I can point to
The queue report shows both counts. I’d check whether request volume was comparable before making a broader claim.
If you don’t have a reliable count, use an observable milestone, a documented decision, or feedback you can share. Say what you know and where it came from. If the team did it together, name the team’s result and your part in it.
Say it in the room
“One result I want to highlight is the handoff pilot. I set up the ownership step and trained the team. Overnight delays went from six to two during the pilot. I’d like to lead the rollout to a second team next quarter. Is that an opportunity you’d support?”
If your manager says not yet, ask:
“What would you need to see from me to support that? Can we agree on one milestone and a date to revisit it?”
Afterward, send a short recap naming the next step, who owns it, and when you’ll check in.
Copy your prep sheet
Review period: [dates]
Result 1: [what changed] · My contribution: [what I did] · Evidence: [where I can verify it]
Result 2: [what changed] · My contribution: [what I did] · Evidence: [where I can verify it]
Result 3: [what changed] · My contribution: [what I did] · Evidence: [where I can verify it]
Skill I strengthened and where I used it: [skill and example]
Skill I want to develop next: [skill and opportunity to practice]
Questions: Which result mattered most to you? What would you need to see before recommending me for more responsibility?
My one ask: [specific decision or opportunity]
Follow-up to confirm: [next step, owner, date]