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&lt;span&gt;It doesn&#39;t get much better than receiving a big fat bonus after you&#39;ve worked hard all year.&#160;&#160;But this year, the process can be particularly anxiety ridden, given this economy and given that employees are all after those ever dwindling bonus dollars.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Most large companies require that you set your critical few objectives in January, and then record progress mid-year and end of year.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Here is the best way to manage this process.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--?xml:namespace prefix=&quot;o&quot; ns=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office&quot;?--&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;#1:&#160;&#160;Review your critical objectives: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;What were your top three priorities in 2008?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Nothing brings in bonus dollars like clarity and transparency.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Ensure that your objectives are tied to the goals of your manager, your department and your company.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;For example:&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;did you bring in new money?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Did you win new accounts?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Did you decrease errors?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;What was accomplished by that cross functional team you were a part of?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Tie your results to the bottom line!&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;#2:&#160; Highlight the deadlines you met:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Set realistic deadlines and do what you say you’ll do.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Under-promise and over-deliver and&#160;those bonus dollars will come!&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;#3:&#160; Constantly check your accomplishments to date:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Only Santa checks his list twice ... you need to check it every quarter to ensure you are on track.&#160; You should have scheduled a mid-year review but since that is past, concentrate on the year end.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Remember, there are many things you can&#39;t control (the economy, your CEO&#39;s decisions, etc.) so control what you can.&#160; Make&#160;the necessary adjustments to complete your objectives.&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;#4:&#160; Highlight how you have raised the status quo:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Few of us brainstorm on a regular basis to make constant improvements at work.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Perhaps you led a brainstorming session or improvised on your own.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Highlight this during your performance review.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Did you format a report in a better way?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Did you leverage the work done in another department?&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;#5:&#160; Pass things by your mentor, before meeting with your manager:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;There are many benefits to having mentors:&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;1) you learn from other&#39;s mistakes, 2) you share your thoughts / ideas in a safe environment, 3) in tough economic times, your mentor can advise you since they have probably been through this before.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Mentors help you navigate your career and they watch your back and this can pay off down the line. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;If you&#39;ve followed these steps, your year-end meeting should be positive.&lt;span&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;Your bonus should be as good as it can be because you&#39;ve planned well,&#160;you&#39;ve constantly innovated, and you&#39;ve gotten exceptional advice along the way. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio is a career coach and co-founder of SixFigureStart career coaching (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;www.SixFigureStart.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio

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