I've given hundreds of end-of-year performance reviews. The strongest employees do these 7 things to prepare.

"Throughout my career leading teams at Nordstrom, Verizon, and Yahoo, I've conducted hundreds of annual performance reviews. Some employees walked in composed, prepared, and ready to shape their career trajectory. Others arrived defensive, unfocused, or unclear about what the conversation was actually meant to accomplish. This year, in a market of layoffs and other financial pressures, those differences matter more than ever."

"Don't treat your performance conversation like a formality. It's likely one of the few moments each year when you have structured, committed time with your manager to clarify expectations, reinforce your value, and influence the direction of your role. Most employees view performance reviews as an opportunity for information exchange, but they're also an energy exchange. How you show up - your tone, body language, and openness - significantly affects how the conversation unfolds."

"Try to avoid rushing into this appointment from another meeting or fresh off your commute. Carve out a calendar window to collect your thoughts one last time so you walk in (or click "join," if remote) in a state of calm and confidence. You want your voice to sound steady and measured so that you don't appear harried, and you should be ready to sit down with your materials organized instead of fidgeting."

Companies are operating with leaner teams, tighter budgets, and sharper expectations, increasing the stakes of performance conversations. Managers evaluate not only accomplishments but also adaptability, collaboration, and contributions to shifting priorities. Performance conversations are one of the rare structured opportunities to clarify expectations, reinforce value, and influence role direction. Employees should manage their mindset and energy before the meeting, avoid arriving rushed, and create space to collect thoughts. Showing up calm, steady, and organized—ready to sit with materials instead of fidgeting—reduces perceived defensiveness. Grounded, collaborative presence promotes a productive discussion and better positions employees to shape their career trajectory.

Read at Business Insider