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If the thought of meeting with the boss to discuss work performance keeps you awake at night, you are not alone.

You may be surprised to learn that a performance review can actually be a useful tool for you and your career. To help ease your stress levels, take time before the meeting to gather your thoughts and questions. Be positive and use the meeting to find out more about your career path in the organization, and work with your supervisor to determine some of your goals and objectives for the coming year.

To get a handle on the best ways to prepare for this all-important meeting, The Canadian Health Network spoke to Richard Hohmann, a Toronto Human Resources Manager with more than 20 years of experience. Here are his top seven recommendations:

1. Consider the review as part of your job.
   The work performance review is a formal, documented recognition of the work you do. Don't think of it as an annoyance you need to complete before getting back to your regular work. This is your chance to get some very important information about your next steps with the organization.



2. Be prepared.
   This goes far beyond showing up on time and looking professional. You need to groom your mind, too. (This is not the time to think on your feet.) Take some time to really think about some of the issues surrounding your job performance:

"This is your chance to get some very important information about your next steps with the organization."

• How do you think you performed over the year?
• How does your own performance fit in with the overall strategy and objectives for your organization?
• What kind of skills you can develop in future?


3. Get some feedback before your review.
   Understanding how well you're doing and what your contribution means to the company should be an ongoing process. Get some feedback from a cross-section of the organization as you prepare for the review. Make sure it's feedback from people who are familiar with your work. If you've done this through the year then the performance review won't be a surprise.



4. Think about how your work fits into the department's overall objectives.
   It might help to stop and think about what is important to your manager and to the organization as a whole when it comes to performance. When your work is aligned with the overall business strategy, your work is likely to be more valued. Think of the performance review as an opportunity to shape and define a work and skill development plan for the coming year. Discuss options and paths with your boss so you are both in agreement with a way forward. In this way, you can be sure that your contribution fits in with where the organization is headed.



5. List your strengths and opportunity areas.
   Okay, maybe this is a bit of HR-doublespeak, but frame your comments and questions in positive terms. Remember that everyone has weaknesses, even the boss. But if you demonstrate a realistic and positive attitude towards improving and growing in these areas, it's a winning combination for all involved.
   
   Think of some ways in which you can turn some aspects of your job that you may not perform so well into opportunities for professional growth.



6. Set out a skill development plan.
   In addition to a review of your results, discuss what skills you plan to develop or work on during the next year. Then, seek out projects that will help you develop those skills.



7. Do your best not to get defensive if you receive suggestions for change or improvement.
   Maybe you're thinking that you're already doing a good job and don't know why you have to receive feedback of any kind. Remember that feedback is extremely important to receive but in the end it's your decision how you want to use it.
   
   And finally, says Hohmann, remember that the most important things when performance is evaluated are the contributions you make and a positive work attitude.

By creating goals together with your supervisor, you will know what is expected. Knowing the expectations, and meeting them, is a sure way to make next year's review a lot less stressful!