The Importance of Appraising Your Achievements and Progress

Developing self-confidence is a common theme in our work. Very often in coaching conversations, these clients will struggle to identify a recent achievement or be able to appraise their progress on an important activity. Does this sound like you?

It is easy to become caught up in striving for the next goal, the next deadline, or the next challenge. Yet pausing to appraise your achievements and progress is not a luxury. It is a vital practice for personal development, confidence and performance.

Recognising what you have accomplished allows you to build a clear sense of direction. It provides insight into what works, what your strengths are and where growth is possible. Without this appraisal, it becomes difficult to see patterns in your work or behaviour, making it harder to make informed decisions about your next steps.

Failing to reflect on your progress can erode confidence. When we focus only on what remains to be done, successes fade into the background or may not even be noticed. Over time, this can create an unrealistic sense of underachievement, even when we are performing well. Regularly acknowledging your wins reinforces self-belief and sustains motivation, particularly during challenging periods.

Performance also suffers when achievements go unrecognised. Feedback loops are essential for learning. By reviewing your progress, you identify effective strategies to replicate as well as areas that need adjustment. Ignoring this process means repeating mistakes, missing opportunities for improvement and working without the benefit of structured insight.

Appraising your achievements does not have to be formal or time-consuming (neither does it make you self-indulgent!). A few minutes at the end of the week to list completed tasks, lessons learned and strengths demonstrated can make a significant difference. Over time, this habit creates a rich record of your growth, making it easier to set realistic goals, measure progress and maintain a sense of accomplishment. This all helps to build confidence.

What’s your experience? What have been the common traps you have fallen into? What have you found has been helpful in building your self-confidence?