1. Understand your Role
The first step to exceeding performance expectations is to fully understand your role and responsibilities. Understanding how your position contributes to the organization’s success makes it easier to buy into your objectives for the year.

If you are uncertain about any aspect of your job, seek clarification. A great place to start is a detailed list of job duties or, if it is available, an official job description, from your manger or human resources department. If no description exists, use the Salary Wizard™ to search for one or two jobs that are close matches to your job. You, along with your manager, can develop an appropriate description from there.