As the calendar year winds down, it's essential to take time to reflect, evaluate, and celebrate the work you've accomplished and plan for the new year. In this episode, we’ll dive into the benefits of reflecting on your achievements, understanding challenges, and setting intentions for the year ahead.

Episode Highlights Include:

1. Review Your Goals and Outcomes

• Look back on the goals you set at the start of the year and see how much progress you made.
• Celebrate what went well and recognize the areas where you might have fallen short.
• Ask yourself, "How did I grow, and what were my significant achievements?"

2. Assess Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Reflect on the challenges you faced. Did any setbacks open up opportunities for growth?
• Think about what you learned from these experiences. Any skills you honed, habits you improved, or changes you adapted to?
• Consider the obstacles that are recurring. What patterns can you identify, and what adjustments could help next year?

3. Celebrate Wins, Big and Small

• Take a moment to recognize all your accomplishments, no matter how minor they may seem.
• Celebrating small wins is crucial as it can help reinforce motivation and build momentum into the new year.
• Consider sending out a note of thanks or acknowledgment to team members or collaborators who contributed.

4. Reconnect with Your Values and Purpose

• Reflect on how aligned your work was with your core values and professional purpose.
• Consider what drove your motivation this year and if your priorities shifted.
• Ask yourself, "Am I on the right path, and does this work still fulfill me?"

5. Feedback Review and Self-Improvement

• Review any feedback you've received throughout the year from supervisors, peers, or clients.
• Reflect on how you applied this feedback and what further steps you could take to improve.
• Set personal development goals for the new year, whether learning new skills, improving communication, or building new relationships.

6. Set Intentions for the Upcoming Year

• Instead of rigid resolutions, set intentions to guide your actions and decisions next year.
• Focus on both professional and personal growth, making room for balance and fulfillment.
• Ask yourself, "What do I want to feel, accomplish, and contribute in the new year?"

7. Plan a Rest and Reset Period

• Ensure you set aside time to rest, recharge, and let go of the year’s stress.
• Schedule moments to relax and enjoy a break before jumping into next year’s objectives.
• Rest is vital for maintaining focus, creativity, and enthusiasm for the future.

Taking time for reflection at year’s end is an investment in your personal and professional growth. By looking back thoughtfully and planning intentionally, you set the stage for a more fulfilling and effective new year. Embrace this opportunity to realign with your purpose, acknowledge your growth, and enter the new year with clarity and confidence.

Stay Connected!

Thanks again for tuning in to the Coaching Divas Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to rate and review the show. That's the best way you can show your support.

We’d also love to connect on Instagram, so go ahead and take a screenshot of this episode or maybe a photo of yourself listening along to the podcast. Post it to your Instagram stories. Be sure to mention us on www.instagram.com/thecoachingdivas or email us at thecoachingdivaspodcast@gmail.com.

We’ll send some Instagram love right back at you. We'll be back next month with another great episode.

In this episode we dive into performance management from the perspective of a employee. This time we focus on insights to help you prepare for performance management discussions with your manager.

Episode highlights include:

1. What performance management really means from an employee’s perspective.

• The cycle: goal setting, continuous feedback, self-assessment, and formal reviews.
• Why it's essential for employees to see it as a tool for personal and professional growth.

2. Setting our own goals

• How employees can actively participate in setting their own goals.
• Aligning personal goals with organizational objectives.
• Importance of measurable and realistic targets (SMART goals).
• The role of transparency and communication with managers.
• How employees can take an active role in their own performance management process.

3. What else is important to consider?

• Self-assessment and reflection as key elements to track progresss.
• Seeking out opportunities for learning and development, not waiting for the company to initiate.
• Continuous self-improvement: leveraging performance feedback for growth.
• The importance of ongoing, two-way communication with managers.
• How to request regular feedback and coaching.
• Handling constructive criticism with a growth mindset
• Approaching performance reviews as collaborative conversations rather than evaluations

4. Some final thoughts:

• Using the review as an opportunity to discuss career progression and aspirations.
• Addressing common issues employees face in performance management (e.g., unclear expectations, lack of feedback)
• Strategies to handle underperformance or negative feedback.
• How to advocate for yourself if you feel the process is not fair or transparent.
• Why continuous learning and development are critical for long-term performance.

Stay Connected!

Thanks again for tuning in to the Coaching Divas Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to rate and review the show. That's the best way you can show your support.

We’d also love to connect on Instagram, so go ahead and take a screenshot of this episode or maybe a photo of yourself listening along to the podcast. Post it to your Instagram stories. Be sure to mention us on www.instagram.com/thecoachingdivas or email us at thecoachingdivaspodcast@gmail.com

We’ll send some Instagram love right back at you. We'll be back next month with another great episode.

In this episode we dive into the crucial aspect of performance management from the perspective of a manager. If you're a new or experienced people manager, this episode is packed with insights to help you lead your team effectively through the performance management process.

Episode Highlights:

1. **Understanding Performance Management:**

- Performance management is more than just an annual review—it's a continuous process of setting expectations, monitoring progress, providing feedback, and supporting your team to achieve their goals.

2. **The Challenges of Performance Reviews:**

- We discuss how to approach performance reviews as a manager, focusing on giving constructive feedback while maintaining a positive and supportive tone.

- Learn about the common challenges that managers face during performance conversations, including differing opinions, the tendency to focus on negative feedback, and the risk of employees taking results personally.

- We emphasize the need for consistent documentation throughout the year to ensure that performance reviews are fair, accurate, and based on a solid record of observations and feedback.

3. **Handling Disagreements:**

- Explore strategies for managing situations where employees disagree with your assessment. We cover how to keep the conversation constructive and ensure that every team member feels heard.

- It's crucial to provide employees with the chance to discuss the review results and explore next steps, which helps in setting clear expectations moving forward.

4. **Focus on Growth, Not Just Critique:**

- While it's easy to get caught up in areas of improvement, we discuss the importance of balancing criticism with recognition of successes and strengths.

- Performance management isn’t just about looking back; it’s about planning for the future. We talk about how to use performance reviews as a springboard for development and career growth.

5. **Actionable Takeaways:**

- A step-by-step guide for managers to conduct performance reviews that are not just evaluative but developmental.

Join us as we unpack the nuances of performance management and equip you with the tools you need to foster a productive and positive work environment. Whether you’re dealing with underperformance, celebrating successes, or navigating tough conversations, this episode has something for every manager looking to improve their leadership skills.

Stay Connected!

Thanks again for tuning in to the Coaching Divas Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to rate and review the show. That's the best way you can show your support.

We’d also love to connect on Instagram, so go ahead and take a screenshot of this episode or maybe a photo of yourself listening along to the podcast. Post it to your Instagram stories. Be sure to mention us on www.instagram.com/thecoachingdivas. We’ll send some Instagram love right back at you. We'll be back next month with another great episode.

If you want to reach out to us directly, please send an email to thecoachingdivaspodcast@gmail.com.