Here's how you can conduct a self-evaluation for your performance review effectively.

When you look at how you're doing, being honest is really important. Take a moment to think about how well you've been doing without making your successes seem bigger than they are or ignoring the tough parts. Remember the goals you set for yourself. How close did you get to reaching them? It's good to feel proud of what you've done well, but also be honest about where you didn't quite make it. This truthful look at yourself is a strong start for growing personally. It shows you're committed to getting better and helps you learn from what went right and what didn't.

I highly recommend going into every performance review with your own mini reflection. You will have gained more perspective on how you’ve been doing (by building self-awareness) and your manager should appreciate your effort and desire to grow. Here are some questions you can ask yourself. 1) what was my most meaningful accomplishment? 2) how did I grow my skills? 3) what were my biggest challenges? And thinks through how you plan to work through them.

For an effective self-evaluation in your performance review, start by listing your key achievements with specific examples and metrics. Be honest about any challenges you faced and what you learned from them. Highlight how your skills have grown and incorporate feedback from colleagues. Set clear, actionable goals for the future. Keep it balanced—acknowledge both strengths and areas for improvement. This approach will give you a comprehensive and constructive review.

When you think about how you've been doing, try to notice any patterns in how things have gone. Do you always finish things on time, or do you sometimes struggle with managing time? Are there certain projects that you find easier or harder to handle? These patterns can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses better. Knowing this can help you set better goals for yourself and figure out ways to do even better in the future. Take the time to recognize these patterns it's a smart way to improve how you work and grow as a person.

Structure your self-evaluation using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge. Task: Explain the actual task or goal. Action: Detail the actions you took to address the task or challenge. Result: Share the outcomes of your actions, including any measurable benefits. I use this often - had learnt from my mentor and would surely recommend.