Top Skills to Brush Up on Before Your Year-End Performance Review

As the year draws to a close, many organizations prepare for annual performance reviews. For employees, these reviews are more than just a checkpoint—they’re an opportunity to showcase growth, highlight contributions, and demonstrate readiness for new responsibilities.

At Pryor Learning, we believe that targeted upskilling—especially in the weeks leading up to your review—can set you apart. By sharpening a few key skills now, you’ll walk into your performance conversation with confidence, concrete examples of growth, and a clear vision for your future.

1. Communication Skills

Clear, effective communication is one of the most sought-after workplace skills. Whether writing reports, delivering presentations, or leading meetings, communication shapes how others perceive your value.

How to sharpen this skill:

●      Enroll in Effective Business Communication to refine your writing, listening, and presentation skills.

●      Practice active listening in meetings and summarize takeaways for the group.

●      Ask a trusted colleague for feedback on your communication style.

Suggested Course: How to become a great communicator.

2. Time Management & Productivity

With end-of-year workloads often at their peak, strong organizational habits demonstrate reliability and efficiency. Managers value employees who can manage priorities while staying calm under pressure.

How to sharpen this skill:

●      Take Time Management for Increased Productivity to learn proven tools for focus and prioritization.

●      Experiment with digital task managers or time-blocking strategies.

●      Align your daily work with your team’s highest-value goals.

Suggested Course: Taking Control of Your Workday.

3. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence—your ability to manage emotions, show empathy, and build strong relationships—is often a differentiator for promotions and leadership opportunities.

How to sharpen this skill:

●      Explore Developing Emotional Intelligence to enhance self-awareness and interpersonal effectiveness.

●      Reflect on feedback with openness, not defensiveness.

●      Practice empathy by actively listening to colleagues’ perspectives.

Suggested Course: How to Handle Emotionally Charged Situations in the Workplace.

4. Technical & Digital Skills

No matter your role, staying current with technology demonstrates adaptability. Mastering the tools your team uses daily—and exploring emerging platforms—positions you as resourceful and forward-thinking.

How to sharpen this skill:

●      Brush up on data and Excel with Excel® Basics or Advanced Excel® depending on your level.

●      Learn Microsoft Project® to strengthen your project management capabilities.

●      Explore on-demand Technology Training across multiple platforms.

Suggested Course: Microsoft Excel Basics.

5. Leadership & Collaboration

Even without a formal title, leadership skills matter. Managers notice employees who step up, inspire peers, and contribute to a collaborative team environment.

How to sharpen this skill:

●      Take Leadership, Team-Building and Coaching Skills for Managers and Supervisors to practice leading with confidence.

●      Volunteer to lead a small project or mentor a new colleague.

●      Strengthen collaboration by giving constructive feedback and celebrating team wins.

Suggested Course: How Managers Become Great Leaders.

Final Thoughts

Year-end reviews aren’t just about reflecting on the past—they’re about positioning yourself for the future. By investing in targeted upskilling now, you demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and readiness for bigger opportunities.

At Pryor Learning, we make professional development accessible with live seminars, on-demand courses, and enterprise learning solutions—so you can grow on your schedule.

Ready to invest in yourself before review season? Explore our full course catalog and find the learning path that fits your goals.