Three Quick & Effective Tools to Leverage When Writing About Yourself

Has this ever been you...

Performance evaluation time is rolling around (long sigh) and you are being asked to complete a self-evaluation. After putting it off as long as you could, you sit down to start writing it, and... your mind goes blank! You can’t remember what you did last month, let alone this whole year. Shouldn't your boss remember anyway?

Or, how about when it's time to dust off that old resume. You want to revamp the language to really show the impact and value you have provided in your role but aren’t sure how to translate the bullet points of your job description and all the "bonus" stuff you do day to day into a compelling story.

Trust me, you aren’t alone. For many women, it is difficult for us to recognize and claim our successes. We are more inclined to acknowledge the contributions of “the team” before we even consider our contributions. To break the writer's block you may experience when having to write about yourself, I have outlined a few tools I have collected over the years that you can adopt to be intentional and proactive in measuring your contributions and success: 

1.    Solicit feedback -You can do this both informally and formally, whether you are an individual contributor or team leader. You can ask your friends and trusted advisors for their opinions on your strengths and opportunities. Or run a specific situation you are managing to gain their opinion. The feedback, in both situations, will offer targeted and actionable information. In a more formal structure, you can solicit input from your team members, peers, or leadership by way of a survey- don't fear, it doesn't need to be complicated or extensive. A simple structured survey with 3-5 questions will give you an intersection of thought and perspective you can really delve into. The questions you ask will vary depending on your audience and objectives, but centering on what is working well, what the opportunities are, and how you can better partner with them are great starting points.

The Value: The gifts of soliciting feedback are numerous, but the best is the gift you give to yourself. Going out and seeking feedback requires vulnerability, humbleness, and self-awareness. Being mature enough to want feedback so you can take action and facilitate growth is so powerful.

2.   Keep an Achievement Journal- I was introduced to the concept of an achievement journal only recently, and I must admit I love the concept. On a daily or weekly basis, silently reflect on both your small and big wins. Electronically or on paper, develop the habit of capturing the actions that brought a smile to your face, or the actions that allowed you to exercise your hidden strengths. From my own journal, I have cataloged “Scheduled that doctor’s appointment that I have been putting off” and “I finally scheduled my car for service”. Some of my larger accomplishments have made the list as well, such as “I finally completed my presentation to 400 people, and it felt GREAT”! Whatever you choose to capture, you can make it easy on yourself by setting a reminder on your calendar to spend 5 mins to update your journal at the end of the day or the week. It doesn’t have to be long and exhaustive, just a couple of words or a few sentences that will remind you of the situation, action, and outcome when it comes time for performance valuations, or a pick me up when you are swimming in self -doubt.

The Value: This introspective act is only for you! The gift- this isn’t contrived or prescriptive. You can define achievement on your own terms, and it will look different day by day. Use it as a reflection tool, to recognize how awesome and great you are for your family, friends, and co-workers- however you show up and show out.

3.   Unsolicited Feedback – Doesn’t it feel so rewarding when you get an unexpected message that simply says, thank you! Save those kudos, text messages, and heartfelt emails that thank you- thank you for speaking up during the meeting or thank you for going above and beyond. Create a folder in your inbox and name it what you may. Take inventory and pride in the value others see in you and file them away for a rainy day.

 The Value: Unsolicited feedback, is the purest form of feedback. And, doesn't require you to do anything. When someone takes time out of their work to reflect on how impactful your contributions are, it is packed full of positivity and authenticity. All you have to do is smile and say THANK YOU.

 Using all three of these methods- solicited, self-feedback, and unsolicited feedback- will allow you to intentionally gauge and measure the value and impact you are creating in your job, your organization, and your career. But perhaps more importantly, this trifecta gifts you the mechanisms to check any biases, judgment, or self-doubt you may have about the value you are creating with varying vantage points.

Great Luck! You got this….

P.S.

Don’t forget to pay it forward and fill someone’s cup. Show gratitude by sending an email or writing a quick handwritten note for someone else’s achievement journal.