Download this spreadsheet to help prove your worth

by Dana Norton | Sep 14, 2001 7:00:00 AM

Takeaway: With today's frantic work pace, tracking your accomplishments and showing how those tasks saved your organization time and money can be difficult. Download this spreadsheet to help automate your personal documentation strategy.

A project manager I know who works for the IT division of an insurance credentialing organization records everything she does during her workday in a ragged spiral notebook. She diligently records project progress, the problems she solves, and the names of people she talks to about particular projects.

She has a practical reason for adopting the strategy: “…when my annual review is due, I don’t have to scramble to show my CIO a year’s worth of accomplishments,” she said. She brings her notebook to her review meeting to use as evidence of her worth to her organization.

My friend taught me the importance of tracking my accomplishments. The tasks we complete, such as negotiating a new ISP contract or finding new ways to use old hardware, can slip by, unnoticed by our superiors. But supervisors need to know how these tasks have saved time and company resources.

But while a beat-up notebook works for my friend, you may find a more formal method more effective. With the help of TechRepublic columnist Brian Kennemer, TechRepublic has created a downloadable spreadsheet you can use to track your accomplishments as a manager.

The accomplishment tracking spreadsheet can help you:

· List the savings each accomplishment brings to your organization.
· Track what projects you work on, officially and off the record.
· Track the major benefits each product adds to your organization.

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Tracking may help secure a raise
Having your accomplishments documented may give you the extra edge you need to negotiate a salary increase or to find a new, higher-paying position.

Using the spreadsheet can help you prove to your CIO or other executives that you are a valuable part of the organization. Click here to download an example of an accomplishment tracking spreadsheet and a template you can use to track your own accomplishments.

Are you a tracker?
Do you already track your own accomplishments? What seems to work for you? Let us know by sending us an e-mail about your strategies or starting a discussion below.

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