Performance reviews (or appraisals) are part of company life in many parts of the world.
Taking time to think about the past year is a good idea–no matter what language you’ll use in your review.
I can remember having a performance review at a company I worked at just after I graduated. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Now that I’m a business owner, I actually like to review myself and my own performance. It helps me think about what I’m happy with in my career–and what I’d like to improve next.
But feeling nervous about a performance review is normal. And it’s not always a bad thing! That nervous energy is there to keep us thinking on our feet and ready to react and adapt.
Make sure that you come to the meeting feeling prepared in English–so that little bit of good stress you feel helps you–instead of making you feel blocked.
The key to having energy to react in this situation (and not feeling so nervous you get ‘blocked” with your English?
Preparation.
In this lesson, we’ll work together so you can go into your performance review with confidence.
Get the worksheet to test what you learn in this lesson!
Did you know that I’ve made a worksheet to go with this lesson so that you can practice everything you see here today? I want you to make this part of the English you actually use in real life!
GET THE WORKSHEET: Make sure you practice these expressions so you can use them in real life with this worksheet made for you by a Neurolanguage coach.
Index:
1. Business English expressions you need for talking about your performance review.
2. Business English expressions: be ready to talk about your milestones.
3. Business English expressions: be ready to talk about your strengths.
4. Business English expressions: areas for improvement.
5. Be ready for feedback.
1. Business English expressions you need for talking about your performance review.
You may have an annual appraisal or performance review coming up–to talk about how you’ve done this year.
Your company may also hold a mid-year review–so that you can see how you’re doing every 6 months.
Whether you have an annual appraisal or a mid-year review, these meetings can help you with your career path or where your career will take you.
That means they can help you get a promotion in your company, or to develop in new ways, to build on your strengths or improve where you need to.
Also check out my lesson: Perfect your elevator pitch in English.
2. Business English expressions: be ready to talk about your milestones.
In your performance review, you’re going to talk about the big accomplishments in the year–your milestones.
You might start by discussing your original goals, with some of these expressions:
“For this year, my key objectives were to help our department transition to working from home.”
You might also want to talk about the objectives you achieved.
You might say:
“We reached our target (or objective) of creating a remote onboarding program for new employees.”
Or if you’re on schedule to reach your goal you might say:
“We’re on target to welcome all new employees remotely by September.”
GET THE WORKSHEET: Make sure you practice these expressions so you can use them in real life with this worksheet made for you by a Neurolanguage coach.
3. Business English expressions: be ready to talk about your strengths.
It’s important to be ready to talk about the things you are good at, what positive attributes you bring to your team: your strengths!
You might say, for example:
“I feel good about my leadership skills.”
Or
“I think I’ve demonstrated a great deal of adaptability.”
In fact, you probably have a LOT of strengths.
You may have shown qualities like:
- Autonomy–working well on your own.
- Problem-solving skills–finding solutions for problems on your own.
- Communication skills–helping others understand what you are saying or what is important.
I’ve designed an extra activity for you to create a few great sentences you can use talk about your strengths (and other things) at your performance review.
Don’t forget to go to sign up to get the worksheet so you can get an activity to help you find your specific strong points for your annual review. And help you practice these great expressions you’re learning–so you can actually use them!
4. Business English expressions: areas for improvement.
If you’re the kind of person who is always looking for ways to improve, you’ll definitely want to share that in your annual appraisal.
Here are some ways you can talk about your goals for your future improvement with confidence.
You could say something like:
“One area where I would like to improve in the next year is in my communication with the rest of the team.”
And you could talk about how you’d like to do that. Maybe you could say:
“I plan to take a workshop in effective communication.”
Or
“I would like to make it a priority to hold monthly meetings with my team.”
5. Be ready for feedback
No annual appraisal is complete without some feedback–where your team or manager will tell you how you’ve done and what you can do to improve.
Of course, you’re always hoping to meet the expectations set out for your role in the company. Or to accomplish the goals assigned to you.
And if you work hard and with a little luck, you might even exceed expectations.
Small, consistent steps add up to big progress!
Learn some of these expressions, and you’ll go into your next annual appraisal ready to focus on your strengths and goals–not worrying about your English. Listening to this video is a great first step. Keep taking these small steps– you’ll be able to use these expressions in real life!
Take the next step: Improve your English in the comments
The best way to become more confident using Business English is to practice!
Here’s your Confidence Challenge for this week:
- In the comments, tell us one strong point you have.
- Write down one area where you’d like to improve this year.
If you learned something from this lesson, please share it with your coworkers & friends. You can send your message to them in English for more practice!
Click here to share this article on LinkedIn
Click here to share this article on Facebook
Speak English more fluently & confidently…in just 12 weeks
My Private Lesson Program “Speak Business English Confidently” helps you feel comfortable speaking Business English in social & professional situations
It’s for you, if today, you feel:
- Uncomfortable in conversations in English, OR
- Embarrassed by your level of English, OR
- Tired of English being a problem for your career, OR
- Frustrated your English is not better, after years of study
Right now, you can get a -100€ discount off the program + 4 other free gifts (Value: 389€) when you enroll in the program “Speak Business English Confidently.”
But this offer closes on Wednesday 24 November 2021!
More details at https://mybusinessenglishcourses.com/speak-business-english-confidently/join-now
My team and I can’t wait to personally help you become more confident in English.
All the best,
Christina
More good stuff…
Click the image to learn more
