As the chapter described, some organizations use self-assessments, in which employees evaluate their own performance. This can help employees develop insights about their own performance, open a conversation with the employee's manager, and serve as a basis for identifying areas for improvement.

Some self-assessment tools have been posted online. Try one of these by visiting the website of the University of Maryland 's human resources department ( http://www.uhr.umd.edu/OrgDev/training.htm ). Under "Organizational Development & Training," click on PRD Web Page. This link takes you to information about the organization's Performance Review and Development program.

At the PRD Web page, click on Conducting a Self-Assessment. Read the guidelines for preparing and conducting self-assessments. Then complete the Self-Evaluation Form. (Print it out to fill in the blanks, or type your answers on a separate page.) To complete the form, consider your performance in the job you currently hold, a job you held recently, or a project you did for school or for an organization where you do volunteer work.

Did completing the assessment tell you anything about yourself? Did you notice anything you would want to tell your supervisor? What else do you wish the Self-Evaluation Form had asked?