Good Managers Keep Receipts
Why tracking achievements beats trying to remember them.
One of the best things you can do for your team is to keep a record of what they’ve achieved – a “highlight reel.” Want to make performance reviews easier for both you and your team? Go to the highlight reel. Want to advocate for raises or promotions? Go to the highlight reel. Want to cheer someone up or motivate them when they’re struggling with self-doubt or recovering from a tough client engagement? Go to the highlight reel.
Given how useful this can be, it’s surprising how few managers actually do it. As with most things in management, it comes down to having a system, and making sure that system works for you.
Start by tracking which projects each person has worked on. It’s easy to lose track, especially when you’ve got a lot on your plate, or when a few big projects overshadow the smaller ones.
When a project wraps up, get people to do a quick post-project review and use that as input for the highlight reel. Or run weekly check-ins where team members share what they’re working on and what they’ve completed – via chat, email, or whatever suits your workflow. Pair that with feedback from peers and clients, and you’ve got the makings of a simple but powerful tool to support, celebrate, and develop your team.