As the end of the year and your annual performance review approaches, it's important to reflect and showcase your accomplishments and contributions over the past year. One powerful tool that can significantly enhance this process is a brag book - a carefully curated collection of your professional achievements, successes, and contributions. Compiling and preparing your brag book can be a game-changer for your annual review and bolster your resilience and success throughout your career as you update and maintain it.
Ideally, you've been documenting, compiling, and keeping track of highlights throughout the year. If you haven't formally kept track, review documents from project meetings, 1:1s with your manager and team, emails, and other sources to highlight your impact. Also, cross-check your documentation with the goals you discussed with your manager at the start of the year. Make sure it tells the story of your journey this year and showcases the value you've added to your team and the company.
Here are key things you should highlight in your brag book:
Customize your brag book to fit your work, professional development, and career goals. Begin to set regular times throughout the year to update it - weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Besides using it for your annual review, it can also be used for job interviews, requesting a promotion, or celebrating your accomplishments regularly.
Remember, creating a well-crafted brag book is a powerful tool beyond self-promotion. It is a testament to your dedication, skills, and the positive impact you've had on your team and organization. By effectively communicating your successes, you set yourself up for a successful annual review and gain a positive sense of self and confidence due to your clearly identified success and growth.
Here are some brag book templates you might find helpful: