A compound of self (Old English sylf, 'one's own person') and appraisal (from appraise, via Old French aprisier, from a- and prisier, 'to set a price on', ultimately from Latin pretium, 'price'). The compound reflects the 20th-century emphasis on individual accountability in professional performance management.
What is a self-appraisal?
A self-appraisal is an evaluation of your own performance, abilities, or character. In the workplace it is a formal process where employees assess their own work, usually as part of a performance review. In psychology it refers to the internal process of honest self-examination.
What is the difference between self-appraisal and self-assessment?
Self-appraisal specifically refers to evaluating your performance or worth, often in a formal HR or academic setting. Self-assessment is broader and can cover any structured check on your own knowledge, skills, or progress, including tests and quizzes.
What should a self-appraisal include?
A workplace self-appraisal typically covers your achievements since the last review, areas where you met or exceeded targets, skills you have developed, and areas you want to improve. It should be honest, specific, and backed up with examples.
Why is self-appraisal important?
Self-appraisal builds self-awareness and accountability. In the workplace it gives managers insight into how employees perceive their own performance. Psychologically, honest self-appraisal is foundational to personal growth and meaningful change.
What is the origin of the word appraisal?
Appraisal comes from appraise, via Old French aprisier meaning 'to set a price on', ultimately from Latin pretium ('price'). It originally meant assigning monetary value; the sense of judging quality or performance developed from there.