292| What to Do if You Don't Have a Formal Review Process

Building on yesterday's performance review episode, Nichole helps listeners whose workplaces have no formal reviews create their own paper trail. In this episode: Why not having a formal review process is common, especially at smaller companies and startups, and why it doesn't mean you can't build your case Step one: asking for feedback on purpose, including a way to make a regular check-in with your manager a quarterly habit Step two: following up after any feedback conversation with a short recap by email or message, so there's a written record Step three: writing your own one-page self-review once or twice a year, with three sections: what I delivered, what I learned or improved, and what I want to take on next How to share your self-review with your manager to show initiative and give them something to react to Step four: leaning on goals by asking, "What would success look like for me over the next six months?" and using their answer as your scorecard Step five: using your kudos, testimonials, project results, and tracker as evidence, since a well-organized tracker can be just as strong as a formal review Why to avoid framing this as a complaint about not getting reviews, and how building your own system earns your manager's respect Today's task: choose one step and do it this week, either sending a recap of your last feedback conversation or starting your one-page self-review, even if it's just a draft Download the 7 Days to Ask for a Raise Challenge to help you confidently ask for a raise here. Connect with Nichole on Instagram @nichole.harrop