Annual review time is right around the corner. That means I’ll have to recall not only what I accomplished, but how my subordinates performed over the past 365 days. I do a decent job of keeping notes of landmark events, but many of the smaller projects escape my memory. I’ll have to scour through dozens of pads and thousands of e-mails to try to put together a case for all of us to get a raise.
Thanks to IDidWork, a new Web 2.0 tool, it looks like things will be easier next year. The simple Web app allows you to log what you’ve been doing at work, so none of your accomplishments, no matter how minor, are forgotten.
Registration is free and painless. Once you’ve selected a password, you can instantly start making entries. Each must be are concise, limited to 160 characters. Down the road, when it’s time to ask for a raise or conduct a review, this information can be graphed, tagged, and exported to Excel or PDF.
IDidWork can also be used to see exactly what your teammates are up to in real-time, without having to hold pointless meetings. However, any boss who would ask a subordinate for such a detailed play-by-play of their day, is a pretty crappy human being. Workers who are gluttons for punishment can request an informal grade from their manager based on their inputted work. This can be for a specific task, date, or set up on a reoccurring basis.
If you’re looking to add a ridiculous amount of transparency to your life, you can add your name and e-mail address to create a feed for co-workers.
Whether or not your manager is involved is optional. I plan on using the tool to chronicle my personal work happenings, but I would never micromanage at this level.
IDidWork also has a blog that keeps you updated on the latest Web features. I would suspect that as the site evolves, they will build more of a community around the tool. Perhaps a hint of Twitter, where people’s feeds can be tracked and shared publicly on the Web site (if they opt in). It would also be nice to see some featured feeds on their homepage.
So far, I’ve enjoyed the ease of entering snippets of my work day that might have relevance when I make the case for more money. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
Leave a Reply