50MINUTES - The Importance of Self-Assessment: Take control of your professional development

This concept comprises two words which, taken separately, can be easily understood:

• self;
• assessment. According to the Collins English Dictionary, the verb assess means to judge the worth, importance, etc., of; evaluate.

Most of the time, we evaluate the people around us or they evaluate us. What is specific about self-assessment is that it involves an individual evaluating themselves. In theory, the only thing that changes is the target, but in practice this has major consequences. You may have already noticed that we do not treat ourselves in the same way that we treat others. Some people treat themselves leniently, even carelessly, whereas others are stricter with themselves than with others.

More than a sum of two words, self-assessment is a complex process which can be illustrated using the example of bodybuilding. In this sport, individuals develop their muscle mass for purely aesthetic purposes and then display their body during competitions. Although they practice in front of mirrors, this is not just to admire the result: it is also and above all to assess their work. Each person has their own physiology, which facilitates or hinders the muscle development of certain body parts. The bodybuilder must get to know their own body and their assets but, above all, their weaknesses. Indeed, although it is always more rewarding to work on their strong points, they must find a balance if they want a well-rounded physique. Based on an initial evaluation, they will develop an appropriate training programme in order to reach their goals. They will regularly have to adjust their exercises depending on their progress, and the only way they will be able to reach their goal is through these efforts.

This is self-assessment: getting to know yourself better, daring to look in the mirror and carrying out an objective appraisal by analysing your strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve your goal. It is important to devise a personalised assessment programme, because some individuals will learn certain skills more quickly than other people.

Tip

The comparison with the world of sports is not a coincidence. Indeed, even though great champions are surrounded by a team which includes their coach and physical and mental assistants, the main factors that have allowed them to reach the highest levels of their sport are their hard work, their discipline and their ability to evaluate themselves. During interviews, sportspeople often reveal tips and tricks regarding their mental state and their training methods. Take inspiration from them. Furthermore, if you lose sight of your goal, hold onto the image of bodybuilding: picture your project as the physique of a bodybuilder and identify which parts need to be improved.

Self-assessment can prove useful in three different situations, based on the criteria before, during, after.

• Before: during our lives, we regularly have to take important decisions which may have major long-term consequences (Shall I take the risk of quitting my stable job to realise my dream of starting my own business?). Before embarking on a new adventure or a complicated project, it is essential to carry out an appraisal in order to weigh up the pros and cons and, above all, to understand the implications and issues at stake.
• During: you may realise in the middle of a project that you are veering away from your initial aim or that the context has changed with the announcement of new technology, a change in the target of the new product, a reduction in the basic budget, etc. This is the time to evaluate the situation in order to adjust your methods for reaching your goal.
• After: self-assessment of a project once it is complete is just as important for your subsequent work. Perhaps you want to know why a project that you spent several months on was so difficult to complete, or you have recently joined a company and are getting ready for your first performance review. Either way, an evaluation will allow you to draw conclusions about the work you have carried out.

Self-assessment for everybody

Self-assessment is essential for personal projects that you are working on independently, because nobody will steer you back if you set off in the wrong direction. Nonetheless, this tool can be suitable for all types of jobs: if you are a subordinate in a big company, with no responsibility, there is nothing stopping you from assessing your work and trying to find ways to boost your effectiveness yourself. You will begin to thrive more in your day-to-day work and it is highly likely that your managers will recognise your efforts.