Introduction to employee performance reviews

Employee performance reviews are formal check-ins where you provide feedback based on how an employee has been performing in their role. They give you a chance to praise what’s going well and offer guidance on areas of improvement.

Reviews also give employees a chance to share their experiences and discuss what they need from you to grow in their role. Over time, these conversations help you shape development plans for each team member and select and nurture future leaders.

How to write effective phrases for performance reviews

Using effective performance review phrases in employee evaluations can help your team understand your feedback and feel motivated to improve. Keep the following best practices in mind.

1. Use clear language

Whether you’re providing constructive feedback or praise, employees should understand what you’re saying. Use simple language, direct and specific tone and examples where possible to help the employee connect your feedback to their day-to-day work.

2. Provide value

The feedback you give during an employee evaluation process should be specific and valuable to the recipient. When writing an employee evaluation, consider what might have the most positive impact on the employee’s overall performance. Talk about how their work connects to team and company goals, where they’ve grown and next steps they can take to continue improving.

3. Give actionable feedback

Performance review phrases should focus on actions an employee can take rather than abstract concepts. Action-oriented language turns feedback into a plan and helps them see how you’ll measure progress.

For example, instead of asking an employee to work on their organizational skills, recommend that they set up a naming system for shared files and block 15 minutes every Friday for sorting new documents.

4. Practice cultural sensitivity

As you select phrases to use in employee reviews, consider the background of the individual receiving your feedback. Cultural differences can affect communication styles.

Understanding these differences can help you write performance reviews using language that respects your employees’ diverse backgrounds.

5. Use effective communication skills

Strong communication skills are essential for effective performance reviews. Managers should aim to communicate clearly and concisely, keep a positive attitude and focus on constructive feedback.

By using examples, you can provide impactful feedback that promotes employee development and growth. Active listening skills are also critical, helping you understand team members’ concerns and ideas.

Managers should be solution-oriented, providing creative solutions to address challenges and improve performance. Effective communication helps managers build strong working relationships with team members and foster a positive team environment.

Examples of phrases for employee reviews

Here are some performance review examples to consider.

Attendance performance review phrases

Punctuality enables employees to fulfill their everyday duties on time without rushing. Here are some examples of performance review phrases that highlight their strengths and weaknesses in this area.

Positives

For the employee who is consistently on time, highlight this characteristic as a strength. Let them know you appreciate their efforts to be punctual. If you want to highlight your employee’s strengths regarding attendance, consider using these performance review phrases:

1. Respects the time of others by arriving at work early or on time
2. Shows up to work on time for meetings and conferences
3. Comes to work ready to meet the day’s goals and tasks
4. Maintains a good working schedule that allows them to complete their daily responsibilities
5. Their consistent attendance encourages their team members to also show up on time
6. Consistently adheres to company rules regarding lunch or break time allotments
7. Respects others’ time by starting and ending meetings punctually
8. Notifies employees of their scheduled absences far in advance

Areas of improvement

If you have employees who aren’t meeting attendance expectations, use performance review phrases to encourage them to improve in this area:

1. Frequent absences affect their overall quality of work
2. Improvement is needed in maintaining consistent attendance
3. Consistently shows up late to work, resulting in missed deadlines
4. Exceeds the maximum allotment for vacation and sick days
5. Doesn’t adhere to the company’s attendance policy
6. Consistently shows up late to meetings
7. Poor attendance negatively affects others on their team
8. Went on vacation without notifying any staff members in advance
9. Frequently returns from lunch and breaks late

Attitude performance review phrases

An employee’s attitude and interpersonal skills can affect their work and the work of those around them. Whether they have a positive or negative attitude can influence the quality of their work. Here are some performance review phrases that can highlight an employee’s strengths and weaknesses regarding their attitude.

Positives

When you recognize an employee for their positive attitude, it signals your appreciation for their outlook. Recognition can also contribute to a collaborative, positive work environment and motivate them to maintain their outlook. Here are some phrases for praising a positive attitude:

1. Has a positive attitude that increases morale in the workplace
2. Creates an uplifting atmosphere that helps keep the team motivated and engaged
3. Perseveres despite problems that may arise
4. Cheerful attitude displays job satisfaction
5. Kind demeanor helps coworkers trust them and feel comfortable
6. Builds positive relationships with other members of their team
7. Consistently looks for the positives in any situation
8. Consistently brings a positive and uplifting attitude to the team
9. Maintains a helpful and supportive attitude

Areas of improvement

If an employee struggles with having a positive attitude, you can use a performance review to address it. These performance review phrases should be followed up with examples to help them understand and take action:

1. Often focuses on the shortcomings or struggles of projects
2. Occasionally displays a resistant attitude toward change
3. Their frequent complaints can sometimes impact the overall morale of the team
4. Could benefit from maintaining a more positive outlook in challenging situations
5. At times, may be hesitant to accept feedback, and working on being more open to suggestions could lead to personal growth
6. Would benefit from a more flexible attitude toward unexpected changes
7. A more patient and understanding approach when dealing with differing opinions could help foster a stronger collaborative atmosphere
8. Could benefit from cultivating a more positive attitude, especially during busy periods
9. Job-related performance review phrases

Performance reviews often include phrases that cover an employee’s overall work ethic and performance. Here are some example phrases that can highlight an employee’s strengths and weaknesses in this area.

Positives

If an employee consistently meets or exceeds expectations in performing their everyday duties, highlight these strengths and their strong organizational skills in a performance review to encourage them to continue this work ethic.

Here are some phrases that can emphasize an employee’s strong work ethic and overall performance:

1. Consistently meets project deadlines with high-quality results
2. Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills in challenging situations
3. Shows great initiative in taking on new responsibilities
4. Effectively collaborates with team members to achieve goals
5. Regularly contributes valuable ideas and solutions during meetings
6. Frequently takes the lead on projects, driving them to successful completion
7. Effectively communicates goals, ideas and project outlines to their team
8. Adapts to company and team changes

Areas of improvement

If you need to use phrases for employee reviews that highlight issues with performance, be clear and specific. Here are some phrases you might use if time management is an area of improvement when it comes to performance, for example:

1. Needs to work on meeting deadlines more consistently
2. Could improve in managing time effectively to handle tasks
3. Would benefit from enhancing attention to detail in projects
4. Should focus on communicating updates more regularly with the team
5. Encouraged to seek clarification on tasks to ensure accuracy
6. Could benefit from better prioritizing tasks to manage workload effectively
7. Work frequently includes errors that require correction

Common mistakes to avoid in performance reviews

One of the most common mistakes to avoid when conducting performance reviews is providing vague or generic feedback, which can be unhelpful and demotivating for team members. Managers should also avoid being too focused on negative aspects, aiming to frame areas of improvement constructively and without judgment.

Managers should avoid dominating the conversation, giving team members time to share their thoughts and ideas. Making performance reviews a two-way conversation helps the employee feel valued and gives you an opportunity to receive constructive feedback.

Using performance review phrases in different contexts

Performance review phrases can be used in various contexts to provide constructive feedback and promote employee development. For example, managers can use phrases that focus on teamwork and collaboration, such as “You’ve consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to work with other team members toward common goals.”

Managers can also use phrases that emphasize individual performance, such as “You have shown significant improvement in completing tasks and meeting deadlines.”

Additionally, managers can use phrases that encourage innovative ideas and creative solutions, such as “You have consistently demonstrated a solution-oriented mindset and provided valuable feedback to improve team performance.”

Tailoring performance review phrases to the context and individual provides targeted feedback that promotes growth and development.

Tips for delivering employee performance review phrases

Here are some tips to help you deliver impactful employee performance reviews.

Let employees self-reflect

Have employees complete a self-evaluation before the formal review. Reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses may make employees more receptive to performance review feedback.

Encourage feedback

After you’ve completed a performance review, give your employees a chance to speak freely about what was discussed, including feedback from their direct reports. This helps employees see you’re considering their thoughts.

Ask them if they agree with your assessment or if they have feedback, such as improvements you can make regarding performance reviews.

Write down next steps

Make sure the phrases you use in performance reviews set clear goals for your employees to work toward.

When you set clear expectations and demonstrate your willingness to provide support, employees will likely feel supported even if their performance review doesn’t go as they might have hoped. Creating a formal performance improvement plan can be a positive next step for employees who need to make significant changes.

Give balanced feedback

Although it’s important to provide honest feedback, also consider your employees’ feelings and always practice strong communication skills. The performance review phrases you use should focus on their strengths and areas of improvement. Overly positive feedback may not inspire improvement, and overly negative feedback may demotivate them.