selfappraisal

Self-appraisal, or self-assessment, is the process by which individuals evaluate their own performance, skills, accomplishments, and development needs. It is commonly used in workplaces as part of performance management, but is also applied in education and personal development settings.

The aims include promoting self-awareness, guiding professional growth, preparing for performance conversations, and providing evidence to managers or mentors. It helps align individual efforts with organizational goals and can support career planning.

Methods vary and may include rating scales, competency checklists, goal attainment records, reflective journaling, portfolios, and narratives describing key achievements and challenges. Many systems encourage collecting objective data such as completed tasks, metrics, and feedback received from others.

Process typically involves establishing criteria or goals at the start of a period, gathering relevant evidence, rating or describing performance, identifying strengths and development needs, and creating an action plan. The self-assessment is often reviewed with a supervisor or mentor to inform a broader performance discussion.

Benefits include increased self-awareness, greater ownership of development, richer performance conversations, and improved alignment with organizational priorities. Limitations include potential biases, over- or under-rating, and the need for guidance or training to produce constructive results. When used with other sources of feedback, self-appraisals can contribute to more accurate and actionable evaluations.