5 Phrases to Ensure You Aren't Overlooked During the Next Review Cycle

You want that promotion. You want to be recognized. You want to feel valued.

This is true every day, but when performance review time rolls around, it becomes all the more important. How do you ensure that your manager takes note of your hard work during the next review cycle? Try these five phrases.

1. “I have an idea.”

Sharing your great ideas is a surefire way to get yourself noticed. Businesses are always looking for means of boosting themselves, creating and innovating, and by contributing ideas of value, you will make certain your colleagues and managers sit up and take note. Even if the business doesn’t end up using all of your ideas, you’re still helping out by brainstorming and getting the juices flowing.

2. “I’ll handle it.”

Taking care of projects and tasks — particularly the tedious ones that present a burden to others — without fanfare is a way to demonstrate that you’re a team player who is willing to go above and beyond, even if the responsibilities fall outside of your job description. If you do this frequently enough, you will prove yourself to be a hard worker who is always there to lend a hand.

3. “I can help by…”

You might be tempted to ask “How can I help?” and that’s perfectly fine. But if you have concrete suggestions for how you can lend a hand, that’s even better. That way, you’re not making it anyone else’s problem — you’re noticing a problem and coming up with strategies for resolving it. 

4. “[Coworker] did such a great job.”

Praising others and recognizing their efforts is part of teamwork. It’s important to be a good colleague and support your coworkers. You’re showing that you have confidence in yourself AND your team members, and others will certainly appreciate your words. Remember: if you seem to be in it for yourself, that won’t get you very far, and you’ll come across as a poor colleague.

5. “I’m eager to take on X responsibilities.”

Let your manager and team know that you want to have more responsibility by saying so! Your boss may not even realize that you’re eager to take on more complex work and lead projects, so it’s your job to make it clear. You can’t always expect to be the lead on every single initiative, but when you volunteer, you’ll make it more likely — and when the time comes for your performance review, your boss will have this (and the other phrases on this list) on their mind.

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This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Fairygodboss.

What's your no. 1 piece of advice for standing out during a review cycle? Share your answer in the comments to help other Fairygodboss members!