Your self-review is missing these 4 crucial elements
(From a Tech Director who's reviewed thousands)
1/ The Power of Balanced Perspective
Stop listing only wins. Own your full journey, and explicitly highlight your misses. What did you learn from these? What specific actions did you take?
For example, transform "Project X had delays" into "After initial delays in Project X, I implemented weekly architecture reviews and reduced technical debt by 40%." Being vocally self-critical demonstrates judgment and builds trust.
2/ Impact Speaks Louder Than Activity
I see too many reviews filled with "I shipped X" and "I delivered Y."
Instead, show me the business impact. How did your work move key metrics? Did your architecture decisions reduce costs? Did your feature increase user engagement? Connect every major delivery to a business outcome.
3/ The "How" Behind Your Impact
How you achieve results is just as important as what you deliver.
Share specific actions you took to build trust and engagement within and outside of your team. For example, did you create inclusive forums for technical discussions? Show me feedback from others that reflects this.
4/ Citizenship: Beyond Your Contribution
Don't just show me your direct achievements - show me how you lift entire teams and scale your impact. Share how you've helped others grow through specific mentoring examples. Tell me how you've championed our values in tough situations. Document your impact on the broader engineering community.
Here's the truth: Your self-review isn't just documentation.
It's your story of impact. Tell it well.
PS: What’s your top self-review tip?
My colleagues Steve Huynh, Rajdeep Saha, and Ethan Evans are all sharing our thoughts on performance reviews today. Check out what they shared for added perspective.
