An excerpt appears below. Read the full article at ellevest.com.

So you’ve been told that it’s almost time for your performance review — that meeting once (or maybe twice) a year when you sit down with your boss to talk about how well you’ve done your job lately.

You might be a little nervous, or you might be looking forward to it. But either way, it’s worth preparing beforehand. Because while performance reviews might not be the *most comfortable* meetings ever, they’re actually not just about what you’ve done so far in your role. They’re also a hugely valuable opportunity to talk with your manager, zero in on your goals for the next year, and get clarity on how to reach them.

Read the full article at ellevest.com.