What is Self-Evaluation? 7 Best Ways to Write a Great Self-Evaluation

Is it that time of the year when you are dreading an upcoming self-evaluation process? Well, you are not alone. Discussing your accomplishments and areas of improvement can be a daunting task for most of us. But instead of letting anxiety get the better of you, remember that it offers a unique opportunity to reflect, assess your work, and set goals for the future. 

Not only is self-evaluation about taking a step back and evaluating your skills and abilities. it also ensures that your performance review accurately reflects your work performance and aspirations. It is, therefore, important to know the tools you need to write an effective self-evaluation to take charge of your personal and professional growth. 

Before we jump into writing a self-evaluation, let’s first understand what is self-evaluation and why it is important.

What is Self-Evaluation?

Self-evaluation is the process of introspection where employees assess their progress. It involves assessing one’s abilities, identifying areas of strength and weaknesses, and taking charge of personal development. Self-evaluation practices can vary across organizations. While some companies provide structured scorecards that include written self-reflection sections, others use a more flexible, fill-in-the-blank format that is simpler to fill out. 

Regardless of the format, the primary objective of self-evaluation is to enable employees to take responsibility for their job performance and offer valuable insights to managers and leaders. It empowers employees to take control of their professional growth and development and make significant strides toward achieving their career goals. 

Why is Self-Evaluation Important?

Now that you know what is self-evaluation, let’s take a look at why self-evaluation is important for both employees and leaders. The reasons, among many, are that self-evaluation:

• Enhances engagement and participation of employees
• Assures deeper insight into employee’s strengths and areas for improvement
• Establishes goals and objectives for professional growth and development
• Encourages accountability for one’s performance and progress
• Provides an opportunity to remind managers and leaders of achievements
• Demonstrates employee value to the team and organization by showcasing contributions
• Prepares employees for performance reviews and appraisal meetings
• Boosts self-assurance and confidence
• Helps cultivate a strong drive to grow and upskill 
• Evaluates the alignment of employee’s efforts with the organization’s goals and objectives

How Do You Evaluate Yourself

Step 1: Reflect on Your Goals

Before you dive into assessing your performance, pause to consider your professional and personal goals. How have they evolved since your last assessment? Which goals have you made progress on, and which ones still need attention? By aligning your self-evaluation with your goals, you can demonstrate to your manager that you are proactive in your professional development.

Step 2: Showcase Your Accomplishments

Use your self-evaluation as an opportunity to remind your manager of your accomplishments over the past year. Be specific and quantify your achievements whenever possible. This will not only give your manager a clearer picture of your contributions to the organization but also help you feel more confident and accomplished.  

Step 3: Gather Insights

To conduct a thorough self-evaluation, you must identify the breakthroughs, challenges, behaviors, habits, and skills that have impacted your performance over the past year. Where did you do well, and where did you fall short? By gathering insights into your performance, you can identify areas for growth and improvement.

Step 4: Address Weaknesses 

Take ownership and demonstrate your commitment to improving and growing. Figure out what held you back and the areas you need to address. Be honest with yourself about where you fell short, and identify the areas that need improvement. Remember, no one is perfect, and everyone has weaknesses that can be worked on. 

Step 5: Set Specific, Achievable Goals

Set specific, achievable goals for the coming year, and be sure to align them with the organization’s goals and objectives. By setting clear goals and outlining a plan to achieve them, you can demonstrate your commitment to your professional development and the success of the organization.

How Do You Write a Simple Self-Evaluation

Having learned what is self-evaluation, here are seven steps to help you write an effective one: 

1. Review your job description: Before you start your self-evaluation, look at your job description and ensure you understand what is expected of you. This helps in prioritizing the areas you need to focus on

2. Gather feedback: Collect feedback from your colleagues, clients, and managers to gain insights and provide testimonials 

3. Start with accomplishments: Highlight your accomplishments over the past year and try to add data to support your claims if possible

4. Discuss challenges and weaknesses: Address any challenges or weaknesses you faced last year, but frame them in a positive light and avoid using negative language

5. Set goals: Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals for the coming year, and align them with your team and organization’s goals

6. Discuss development opportunities: Demonstrate your commitment to your role and desire to improve. Also, talk to your manager about opportunities for professional development, such as training, certifications, or conferences 

7. Proofread and edit: Finally, make sure to proofread and edit your self-evaluation to ensure that your points are clear and concise before submitting it

ALSO READ: Learn How to Future-Proof Your Career and Emerge Stronger in 2023

Best Practices for Great Self Evaluations

Here are some best practices to ensure you write a great self-evaluation: 

• Do not rush and give yourself time to do a thorough check  
• Be truthful and critical in your assessment 
• Don’t be self-deprecating; use optimistic language when critiquing yourself 
• Provide specific examples whenever possible to support your points 
• Back up your claims with evidence or data, if possible
• Keep the focus of your evaluation on yourself instead of your team 
• Ensure your evaluation is in line with your team and organization’s goals
• Continuously keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year

What are Self-Evaluation Tools?

Self-evaluation tools are resources and methods that you can use to assess your work performance and identify areas for improvement. These tools are great for evaluating your work performance and take into consideration factors such as work values, personality types, interests, and abilities. They can be in the form of surveys, questionnaires, checklists, or software programs. Self-evaluation tools also provide you with guidance on how to improve performance, set goals, and develop skills. These include AG5, Big Five Personality Test, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, to name a few.

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Boost Your Confidence by Taking Certification Courses with Emeritus

To conclude, we hope this guide has answered your question about what is self-evaluation and how to write one. Self-evaluation can not only empower you to take control of your career, but it also benefits your teams and organization. By identifying strengths and weaknesses through self-evaluation, you can find ways to develop the areas that need improvement and where you need to upskill. One effective way to hone your skills is by taking online courses with Emeritus. These help showcase your passion for your job, stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, and increase your job satisfaction, opportunities for advancement, and earning potential.

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