Keep a Simple Win List
Eighteen easy tips to keep a simple win list, so you always have proof of your good work.
Write it down. Wins are easy to forget.
25 tips that really help
These ideas come from So Good They Can’t Ignore You (Cal Newport), Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher and William Ury), Mindset (Carol Dweck), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
Why keep a win list
Busy weeks erase memory. A win list shows your value when you need to ask for a raise or update your CV.
Start one.
Choose one place
A notes app, notebook or document works. One place is easier to keep.
Pick one.
Write one line a day or a week
Short lines are easy. Even small wins count.
Write one.
Add numbers when you can
Hours saved, people helped, money earned. Numbers make wins clear.
Add one.
Save kind messages
Copy thank-you notes and praise. They are proof of your impact.
Save them.
Note skills you used
Mention the skills each win needed. It helps your CV.
Add skills.
Review monthly
Look back and notice patterns. It builds confidence.
Review it.
Use it for reviews and CVs
Pull lines from the list when asking for a raise or applying. It saves time.
Use it.
Script: win line
Finished the onboarding guide, which saved the team ten hours a month. Write it clearly.
Use it.
Script: praise line
Maya said my report made her meeting much easier. Write it simply.
Use it.
Script: lesson line
I learned to ask for help earlier. Write it honestly.
Use it.
Mistake: only listing big wins
Small wins add up, so include them.
Include small ones.
Mistake: never reading the list
A list needs review, so look at it.
Review it.
Troubleshoot: when you feel you have no wins
Look at tasks you finished, people you helped and things you learned. Wins hide there.
Look closer.
Troubleshoot: when you forget to write
Set a weekly reminder on Friday afternoon. A cue helps.
Set a reminder.
Drill: set a Friday reminder
Add a weekly reminder to update your win list.
Set it.
Keep screenshots of kind messages
Praise from customers and colleagues is proof of your impact. Save it in one folder.
Make a folder.
Write the problem you solved
A win is clearer when you name the problem, the action and the result.
Write three lines.
Track the time or money saved
Numbers like saved four hours a week make your value clear.
Add numbers.
Add the date of each win
Dates help you find wins for reviews and CV updates.
Add dates.
Example: the review prep
Lena used her win list in a review and got a clear pay rise.
Use your list.
Example: the CV refresh
Omar updated his CV in twenty minutes from his list.
Use it for your CV.
Mistake: waiting until review time to remember
Memory fades, so write each win soon.
Write soon.
Troubleshoot: when you feel your work is not important
Ask a colleague what they notice. Others see your value.
Ask one person.
Review your win list before every one-to-one meeting
A quick look reminds you of your results and helps you speak with calm confidence about your work.
Read it first.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many networking and career moments.
“Today I finished this project.”
“It saved ten hours.”
“My manager said thank you.”
“I learned this.”
“Let me read my list.”
“I have a lot to be proud of.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Open a note
Write today’s win
Add a number
Add a thanks
Review monthly
Share
Celebrate
Further reading
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You (Cal Newport)
- Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher and William Ury)
- Mindset (Carol Dweck)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
More lessons in “Growing Your Career”
Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.
