Before you know it, a new year will be here. So it’s time for your annual review. Have you ever considered using an annual review template to keep you on track during your review?
It seems like the years get shorter and shorter with each passing year. And if you’re like me you’ve already identified several goals for the new year.
I’ve learned that, if I am going to live out the things that are most important to me, I must plan regular, purposeful time away to reflect on the past and look forward into the future.
Last week, I spent two days alone in East Texas conducting my annual review. While I was away, I spent time relaxing, reflecting, thinking, praying. And I made significant progress in a couple of areas in which my growth had stalled.
I am regularly asked what I do during this time away so in this post I’m going to give you my guide & template for how I prepare for my annual review.
So today I am giving you My Annual Review Guide and Template.
Click here to download the Annual Review Template and Guide
More Review Templates and Guides
In addition to my annual review, I also conduct weekly and quarterly reviews. I’ve written previously about how my regular reviews have helped me find greater fulfillment and effectiveness in my life and work – take a few moments to check out these articles to see how these reviews differ and how you can customize them to work for you:
- The Importance of My Weekly Review. Every Sunday evening I review my life plan. And every Friday I review my business vision. In this post, I detail four ways that my weekly review has brought dramatic improvements to my life and work.
- The Importance of My Quarterly Review. I schedule one day away for a quarterly review at the end of March, June, and September. In this post, I detail how I prepare for my quarterly review.
- My Quarterly Review Tool. See what I do during my quarterly review. Take my template and customize it for yourself.
- Plan Your Year with Your Annual Plan. I review my process for creating my annual plan for the coming year and I provide a free template for creating your own annual plan. This is the most valuable tool I use throughout the year. It helps me plan 1-3 years in advance and keeps me on track as I go through the year. I refer to it almost daily.
- My Annual Review Tool. This is what I do during my annual review. Customize my template for yourself.
I’ve seen, first-hand, the amazing progress you can make when you’re alone for a day or two without the usual distractions. So make it a priority – plan now to get away soon!
Click here to download the Annual Review Template and Guide
How do you plan your year?
Michael –
Great approach and thanks for the article. I think the real key here is the rhythm or cadence that you use to review your progress and give/get feedback. Once you build that into your review cycle you can move faster and be more agile in your approach.
As the CEO of Kapta (http://www.kaptasystems.com) One of the biggest problems that I see on the corporate level is companies that think that once a year review is acceptable. The tools and templates you provide can be used for personal as well as company goal-setting. Thanks for the contribution!
I agree, Alex. Great thoughts. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
Michael,
I have never been a goal setter. Need help.7136905629.I am unemployed.
Earl Wallace
Send me an email using the link on my Contact page. We’ll see how we can best serve you.
This has been part of my last week. I’m finishing (finally) my master’s degree in March, and so I’ve been looking at that big question: what next?
Reviewing how to structure and guide the whole year in light of that has been helpful. It the past, it’s been a question of when and where I could get the classes to make progress. Now, moving forward.
Congratulations on completing you grad work, Doug! I’ve been there.
I might even manage to bring you a cup of coffee when I’m in Arlington for graduation–Midlothian’s not too far from there. I’ll make contact closer to May and see if it’s possible.
Sounds great!
Thank you for sharing this. I regurlarly review personal financial goals on a monthly basis which really helps me cut costs etc… Completed my annual yesterday which has highlighted a few areas where I no longer have the ‘best deal’. Looking forward to seeing your annual tool.
Regularly reviewing top priority areas f you r life and work is a great discipline. Thanks my connecting friend. Enjoy your week.