127. How to Prepare for Your Annual Review in October (Not December) | Leadership Tips for Women

Communicate to Lead

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Imagine sitting across from your boss in December, being asked about your biggest accomplishments this year—and your mind goes blank. You know you worked hard. You delivered results. However, you can't recall the specifics, so you undersell yourself and walk away feeling frustrated. Sound familiar?

What this episode is about

Your annual review isn't something that happens in December; it's happening right now. In this episode, I break down why mid-October is the critical time to start documenting your wins, building a system to capture your accomplishments weekly, and turning your achievements into compelling stories that showcase your leadership value.

If you're a woman leader working toward senior leadership, this episode will change how you approach performance reviews forever. No more scrambling to remember what you did. No more underselling your impact. No more walking into career conversations unprepared.

What you'll learn

In this 30-minute episode, you'll discover:

✅ The "Memory Gap" problem and why waiting until December to think about your annual review sets you up for failure

✅ The Right Now Audit: A step-by-step process to capture 10 months of accomplishments before they fade from memory

✅ The Weekly Capture Habit: How to spend 10 minutes every Friday documenting your wins so year-end reviews become effortless

✅ The S.T.A.R. Framework: How to turn your accomplishments into compelling leadership stories that get you noticed, promoted, and compensated fairly

✅ 5 Action Steps you can implement immediately to ensure your hard work doesn't disappear into a memory gap

Why this matters for women in leadership

Research shows women are less likely to advocate for themselves and claim their accomplishments compared to their male counterparts. This episode provides you with the exact system to document your wins, own your narrative, and position yourself for the next promotion or senior leadership role.

Action steps

Schedule your Right Now Audit - Block 90 minutes this week
Create your Wins & Lessons Document with 4 key sections
Set up your Weekly Capture Habit - 10 minutes every Friday
Draft 3-5 headline stories using the S.T.A.R. framework
Set a year-end prep reminder 2-3 weeks before your performance review

About your host:

Kele Belton is a communication and leadership consultant, coach, and speaker who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through strategic communication and practical leadership frameworks.

Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/
Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

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