A Five-Step Approach to Writing Employee Performance Reviews

This article provides a five-step method for writing job reviews, starting with clarifying the review's purpose and gathering both numerical and qualitative feedback. It recommends using concrete examples, inviting employee self-assessment, and documenting next steps for accountability. The guide also notes that fairness and follow-up are important for making reviews useful.

The guide frames reviews as more than administrative forms, positioning them as tools for direction and motivation. It lays out five stages: clarify intent, collect evidence, build the discussion around concrete illustrations, invite the employee’s own perspective, and record agreed actions.

Its evidence-gathering advice combines measurable results—such as revenue gains, efficiency improvements, or satisfaction scores—with input from colleagues, supervisors, and subordinates. Historical evaluations and self-assessments add context. The article also mentions a “Playing Cards” method for sorting strengths and improvement areas, and stresses equity and later check-ins.