Part of your job as a leader is to evaluate others' performances in the workplace, but who assesses you? It's hard to gather feedback when there isn't anyone above you to evaluate your work, but it's not impossible. 

By relying on your employees and coworkers and considering your work with a critical eye, you can gather crucial information that can improve your company's performance. 

Here, Michael Wiener, founder of Bestplates shares a few tips on evaluating your performance as a leader and an employee through self-reflection, goals, and feedback from others. 

 

Nearly everyone takes some time to reflect on themselves, and most people are incredibly self-conscious, but that doesn't mean you're gauging your performance accurately. To do that, you must take some time to develop an unbiased standpoint of yourself first.

Then, ask yourself, "have my actions met the standards I hold for my employees?" and don't be afraid to say no. It may be difficult to overcome your bias towards yourself, but it's not impossible.

Once you're done contemplating your performance, check the numbers for the truth. If you recently started new leading techniques, watch the performance levels of others over time and see whether it has improved the workplace or hurt it. After all, as a leader, you hold a significant influence over your employees, which can make or break a company's productivity. Depending on the outcome, you may want to rethink and adjust these techniques to suit the company better. 

 

Defining and setting goals is as crucial in your daily life as it is for your business. It's also crucial to make sure your goals align with the company's mission statement. 

You set goals for your employees every day, so it's essential to hold yourself to that same expectation by providing yourself goals, too. It can be something as small as making sure you smile and ask your employees how they're doing every day to meeting a big sales goal by the end of the quarter. If you don't meet the goals, reconsider what you could do to improve your performance as a leader.  

If you have no one above you to assess your performance, don't be afraid to ask your equals and those working under you for their honest feedback. 

Of course, it's important to ensure anonymity when collecting feedback from employees; otherwise, they are less likely to be truthful, even if it needs to be said to improve the workplace. Using online, anonymous surveys or going old school by asking your secretary to type up written responses so that you cannot identify a person's comments are two reliable ways to do this. 

Once you have their feedback, be open to any constructive criticism and consider how you can implement it to improve yourself.

 

Michael C. Wiener of Albuquerque New Mexico is a world-renowned license plate collector, researcher, and consultant. He is considered to be America's leading authority regarding automobile license plates and motor vehicle licensing systems. By the time he was 23, he had visited all 50 states and has now explored over 100 countries across the globe. Mr. Wiener was elected as an Albuquerque City Councilor, a New Mexico State Senator, and a Bernalillo County Commissioner. He was elected twice as International President of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA), and has been featured on HGTV's Offbeat America," CNBC News with Brian Williams, and appeared in an episode of AMC's Breaking Bad and was featured in New Mexico Magazine. Michael Wiener serves as a consultant for motor vehicle departments, law enforcement agencies, and television and motion picture producers on subjects related to motor vehicles and automobile plate history. He has been nominated twice, by his peers, to the ALPCA Hall of Fame and was given the "Outstanding Leadership" Award by the Mid Region Council of Governments in 2013.