You may get an annual performance review, or maybe a semi-annual performance review.

However often you have them, performance reviews are essential to your career.  They can affect your chance for promotion, probabilities of nabbing a raise, and, in some cases, determine whether or not you'll have the same job for much longer.

Most think that if they just work hard and do their jobs well, they'll wind up with decent performance reviews.  In truth, there's much more you can do than just excel.  Here are a few things you can do to almost guarantee sterling performance reviews year after year:

Keep management updated.  "Official" performance reviews come around infrequently.  That's why it's a good idea to arrange for more frequent "unofficial" performance reviews with your immediate supervisor and other members of management.  Keep them updated on what you're working on and ask for input. Ask them to critique one or two of your methodologies. Arrange for these unofficial performance reviews about once per month (doing so more frequently will make it look like you need a babysitter). This allows managers to feel connected and personally vested in your career. 

Surprise them.  Present something you've worked on to your managers they didn't expect - or even know about.  For instance, if you're in a service-based organization and everyone in the office schedules clients for workshops and appointments, developing a simple scheduling application on the shared drive will surprise management.  It will make the office run more efficient.  And yes, you'll score lots of brownie points.  It'll also almost force management to give you a favorable performance review.

Bring your accomplishments with you.  When you're called in for your "official" performance review, bring in a list of your accomplishments since your last performance review.  Discuss them in some detail and demonstrate how you've added value and/or income to your team and your company.  This can make the difference between an "adequate" review and an "excellent" performance review.  You'll likely see the difference in your paycheck - and when you interview for promotions.

IN THE CARAVAN: Improve your official performance reviews by keeping management in the loop, being proactive and showcasing your accomplishments during the actual review. 

NEXT THURSDAY: Jack Tripper and Two Dates