Thursday Ramble: Annual Evaluation

Different from my year end reading list, and my annual goals review is my annual performance evaluation.  Some of the jobs I had over the years had formal annual reviews, some sporadic reviews. I don't know which is more helpful.  It always bothered me that the review process was one way, from the top down, and never from the bottom up. The last couple of years I worked when I was responsible for reviews, I did invite input from my colleagues. There was no form for this, no place that it was recorded in systems.  It was not always easy to hear, but little that I was told was a surprise. I was probably a harsher critic of my work, than those that I worked for, or that worked for me.  

So now that I work for me, almost a full year now (the anniversary of my last day in the office is the subject of an upcoming post) it is time to look at how am I doing? 

I did a good job this year at communicating.  I have emailed and exchanged text messages with more people. I send email letters to others - probably annoyingly so.  I have been faithful to the blog.  Even with a month planned away from home last spring, I kept posts up every day, and as the trip progressed and WiFi became available I edited or replaced planned posts.  I have largely dropped FaceBook, I look at it, but seldom post, most of my feed is filled with junk forwarded by others. But there are posts, a dear friend is on a holiday cruise, it is nice to see his posts.  I am not a good phone conversationalist, made worse by a job where I logged over 12,000 phone calls in a little over 9 years, that started with me saying "thank you for calling, tell me what is wrong in your life?"   I should work on being comfortable on the phone again. 

On my job description for retirement was to become more involved in my community.  I have started to do a few things with the arts group, and I think made it to about half of the first Saturday community coffees.  I used the outdoor pool over the summer, and have become a regular at the indoor pool over the past month.  I have attended one educational program, and one party.  This is solid progress, and I am encouraged to continue to make the most of this. 

On my job description was to do some writing.  I published several book reviews and short articles.  I am nearly finished with writing a book chapter on identity theft. I have a couple of chapters written on end of life.  This effort would benefit from discipline of writing for an hour every day. 

I have continued my education this year.  I read a wider variety of topics and formats this year.  Exploring issues of racism and poverty - delving into a little fiction.  I have taken more than the required number of hours of continuing legal education, including topics unrelated to any work I have ever done.  I should do more of this. It is time for me to look at returning to attending an in-person educational event. I need to go take a studio art class, I have a list of place that teach pottery.  

On my office evaluations the past few years, were customer service and teamwork.  I think I have done okay at supporting my sweet bear, my only team member, while still allowing independence.  I am my own customer, I have had few complaints.  I can do better at relaxing and spending time doing nothing.  I want to embrace silence, and avoid the 101 distractions around us.  I can do better at planning not just where we are going, but what we might do or see when we get there.  

Again, I am probably my harshest critic.  But that is okay. Stopping to think about how am I doing at this, and how can I do better or at least maintain quality, is an important exercise.  Until someday it will not be.