Start 2006 off right with Training!
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F.R.E.E Teleseminar
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You don't want to miss our Garage Sale!
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Feature Article:
Are you the employee that you would like working for you?
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Start your year off right!
$2006 off of any full day of training in January. Follow this link for more...

F.R.E.E Teleseminar!
"Time Tactics to Make You a Success in 2006!"

As we close out another year, take a moment and reflect on your accomplishments:

Did you do everything you wanted to?
Are there lingering goals left undone?
Are you so busy that you don't have time to even think about your ambitions?

If you want more time in your day,
to be more productive,
to get your life back in balance
this program is essential for you!

Start off the New Year with a game plan to be more productive and better organized!
Join me for a one hour FREE Teleseminar where you'll learn how to become more efficient, effective, and productive

Follow this link to learn more!
Seating is limited so please order quickly!

Ruby's having a Garage Sale!!

Yep, that's right folks. My husband is so tired of looking at the boxes of my Supervisor-in-a-Box audio cassettes that are stacked up in the garage. He told me they need to go! My loss is your gain!

Right now you can purchase any or all of my non-boxed audio tape sets for the unbelievable price of $17 per program, or $37 for the entire Supervisor-in-a-Box Series of all four programs. Yes, you read that right...$37 for the ENTIRE SET! That's a savings of $100!

The Supervisor in a Box Series is a powerful resource divided into 4 tape albums. Each album has two cassette tapes packed with information that will help you lead others and build strong teams.

Included with each program is a web address for a downloadable workbook that guides you through all the elements covered in the tapes.

The Four Two-Hour Audio Cassette Tape Series includes:

Supervisory Skills for Success

How to Attract and Select Great Employees

How to Develop an Effective Employee Training Program

Encouraging Staff Development: The Performance Appraisal Process

Click here to purchase the tape sets at the amazing Garage Sale price!

But act fast, this offer is good only while supplies last!

Are you the employee that you would like working for you?

That is the question Karen Myers, Youth Program Supervisor for South Bend Parks & Recreation, told me she frequently asks her staff.

Karen attended one of my sessions on "Facing the Challenge of Challenging Employees" and shared her wisdom after the program. She says that question helps her employees look inward and do a self evaluation so she doesn't have to be the bad guy.

That got me thinking about how important that perspective is going into a performance review. Usually about now employees are preparing for their annual evaluation. So I decided to offer some thoughts on how you can arrive for your next performance appraisal meeting fully prepared.

1. Well in advance of the meeting take a good look at your strengths and make a list of your accomplishments since your last evaluation. By quantifying your achievements with numbers and facts, your contribution becomes more measurable and will have a favorable effect on your review. Think about what your boss' pet projects are and review the overall mission of your organization. What contribution have you made to support those endeavors?

2. Reflect on your past reviews and areas that were outlined for improvement. Provide specific details on how you have worked on those areas and evaluate the progress you have made. Listening to feedback and taking steps to work on those skills shows that you are eager to improve.

3. Take an honest look at your areas that need to improve. Are you late to meetings? Do you have sloppy work habits that impact your professional image? Do your teammates think you are hard to work with? Are you solution oriented or do you complain about the problems? Whatever the issues are, I encourage you to reflect on the big picture and how your work life would change if you improved in those particular areas.

4. Prepare a list of skills that you would like to improve about yourself. I know you may be thinking that just gives fuel to your boss, but in reality a person who acknowledges their own weaknesses has a good sense of self. After all, we all have them right? By sharing those limitations you will take the first step towards improvement. And by the way, there is nothing more difficult than a boss having to share shortcomings with an employee who thinks they don't have any.

5. When you get done with your list, decide how you plan to improve those skills. How are you going to work on that area of development? Are you going to take a class? Will you need support along the way? The more details that you think through before going into this meeting, the better. If you want training, find out the details about a specific class or program and take that information with you to the meeting. A supportive boss will welcome and celebrate your initiative.

6. Go to the meeting with a detailed outline of all the above. Include your goals for the coming year that reflect your current accomplishments and things you want to work on. Be honest and tactful in your delivery.

7. When the discussion begins, be a good listener and accept criticism gracefully. Being defensive will only reflect poorly on your professional image.

In John C. Maxwell's new book "Wining with People," John says that people who are unaware of who they are and what they do often damages relationships with others. He explains that the way to improve that is to look in the mirror. John uses Critic Samuel Johnson's words to bring home a point about self analysis…"He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief which he proposes to remove."

The successful leaders I work with truly have a healthy sense of themselves and know that there is plenty of room for self-growth.

My hopes for you are a positive review that takes you a step closer to your next promotion. In the meantime … Are you the employee that you would like working for you?

© 2005 RubySpeaks, Inc. You are free to reprint or share this article providing you include Ruby's copyright information, leave it unaltered and include Ruby's contact information on the page.