34 phrases and examples for employee performance reviews

Many managers struggle to find the right words when delivering feedback during performance reviews. 

The pressure to convey insights with clarity and compassion can easily overwhelm. This is especially challenging when managing distributed teams that don’t benefit from in-person interactions. You want to provide your team members with guidance that pinpoints areas for improvement, inspiring growth and celebrating success simultaneously. But the wrong feedback can instantly shift the tone from inspiring to deflating.

The impact of your feedback sets the tone for everything that follows. A perfect balance of honesty and encouragement will motivate your team and set them up for continuous improvement. Unfortunately, many managers lack performance review examples to refer to when crafting their feedback. That’s why we’ve compiled 34 carefully worded phrases you can use to jumpstart productive conversations.

What is a performance review, and why does it matter?

A performance review (aka a performance appraisal) is a structured evaluation of an employee’s work over a specific period. Typically, direct managers or supervisors provide their team members with valuable, formalized feedback. 

Appraisals evaluate how well a team member’s work aligns with their individual goals and those of their team and organization. This alignment is crucial because it helps employees envision their role within the big picture.

Good leaders understand that the most effective performance reviews combine positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. Managers should outline strengths and weaknesses, suggest areas for professional growth, and acknowledge specific contributions. 

Why is it so important to nail your performance evaluation comments? Here’s how strong appraisals will positively impact your team: 

• Enhanced employee engagement: Clear, constructive feedback empowers employees to take ownership of their development. Recognizing achievements sets up a success mentality for tackling new challenges and improving weak spots. 
• Strengthened relationships: Thoughtful feedback nurtures trust and open communication between managers and team members. When employees feel supported and seen, they’re encouraged to collaborate deeper and strengthen team dynamics. 
• Greater accountability: Strong performance appraisals establish measurable goals and expectations, setting a clear path to success while promoting accountability. When employees understand what’s expected of them, they’re more likely to reach desired outcomes.

34 performance review examples

Whether you’re celebrating your team members’ achievements or guiding growth, here are some helpful phrases for performance reviews to build meaningful dialogue:

KPIs

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are established benchmarks that measure success in specific roles, initiatives, or projects. KPIs are set to reach specific organizational objectives, making them essential to your employee’s day-to-day work.

1. “Several teammates have mentioned how your proactive approach to tracking KPIs motivates them to do the same.”
2. “I appreciate your consistent communication and due diligence. Regular updates are crucial for the team to routinely complete tasks.”
3. “We love how you persistently analyze your KPI results and use those insights to improve your quality of work.”
4. “Let’s work on breaking down KPIs into clearer incremental milestones so we can track progress more effectively.”
5. “Your last project lacked polish and careful review. Let’s talk about the obstacles preventing you from meeting deadlines consistently.”
6. “I noticed your performance slowed down by 25% on the last project. What challenges can we help you with to improve productivity?”

Creativity and innovation

Competitive organizations are built on the foundations of creativity and innovation. Here are some appraisal examples to push your team to continue thinking outside of the box:

7. “I’m really impressed by how your recent brainstorming session yielded game-changing contributions to our project.”
8. “Your problem-solving skills really stand out. I admire your consistent willingness to tackle challenges with a creative, solution-driven mindset.”
9. “I appreciate your enthusiasm for brainstorming, but we should work on following up with structured plans.”
10. “Your insights are incredibly valuable, but they could benefit from more research and attention to detail to back them up.”
11. “Your innovative spirit is contagious. I would love to see you bring more team members along on your creative process to add more diverse perspectives.”

Communication skills

Evaluating your remote workers’ communication skills is vital, as distributed teams rely heavily on written messages that may be delayed or easily misinterpreted. Here are some performance review phrases to proactively encourage a culture of open dialogue:

12. “Your ability to articulate ideas with your colleagues is an enormous asset to our team. I appreciate how you keep everyone informed and engaged during conversations.”
13. “I’ve noticed big improvements in your active listening skills since our last employee evaluation. Your thoughtful feedback creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for your team members.” 
14. “Your teammates sometimes struggle to grasp your more complex strategies. Let’s work on your storytelling skills to make your ideas more clear.”
15. “One area for improvement is communicating with more empathy. Your messages are straightforward, but sometimes your directness comes across as harsh. Let’s brainstorm more positive phrases that encourage collaboration.”
16. “We should work on asking for help proactively. Your team is here to support one another. When you feel overwhelmed, it’s OK to delegate tasks to your team members.”

Work ethic and accountability

Dedication, accountability, and a commitment to excellence are essential to individual and team success. Here are some phrases to encourage a strong work ethic in your performance reviews:

17. “I see and appreciate your commitment to consistently meet deadlines. You’re an exceptionally strong link in the chain.”
18. “Your proactive and timely approach to completing tasks sets a fantastic example for your team members.”
19. “I noticed that you struggle to effectively prioritize tasks. Let’s work on time management techniques to increase your productivity and reduce last-minute stress.”
20. “You frequently sign on late to meetings, which can create workflow problems for your team members. How can we work together to improve your time management?”
21. “Last quarter, you consistently missed deadlines. I’m worried your workload is more than you can handle. Let’s reassess.”

Customer service

Your customer-oriented workforce is the face of your brand. Here are some appraisal examples to help your team members understand their role in shaping solid relationships and positive brand reputation:

22. “I admire your ability to stay cool under pressure. You always handle customer inquiries with patience and professionalism.”
23. “I noticed you always follow up with your clients. Your communication style is instrumental in keeping many important clients very happy.”
24. “Some of your clients feel out of the loop. Let’s build strategies to improve follow-up communication so they feel more supported.”
25. “I appreciate your straightforward approach to problem-solving, but we need to work on less direct communication, which can put off customers.”

Goals

Clear goals provide direction, motivation, and a clear path for progress. These performance review phrases help team members understand the importance of consistently setting goals:

26. “Since our last performance evaluation, I’ve noticed massive improvements in your ability to break large goals into manageable tasks. Great job!”
27. “I appreciate your willingness to adjust your goals based on feedback. Your adaptability sets an incredible example for your colleagues.”
28. “I’ve noticed that some of your goals lack specificity. Let’s work together to refine them so they’re actionable and achievable by your next performance appraisal.”
29. “I sense some misalignment. Let’s discuss how to prioritize your professional growth within organizational objectives.”

Collaboration and teamwork

Collaboration and teamwork are the cornerstones of a successful workplace. For distributed and remote teams, intentional effort and open communication bridge the challenges of working in isolation. Here are ways to celebrate teamwork and motivate deeper collaboration in your employee performance reviews: 

30. “Your ability to motivate your colleagues during challenging projects is awe-inspiring. Your upbeat attitude and willingness to help others contribute positively to the workplace.”
31. “I love how you actively encourage participation in discussions. Your inclusive communication style encourages everyone to speak up and prioritizes healthy teamwork.”
32. “Your leadership pushes the team forward, but sometimes you take over the conversation. Let’s work on finding the balance between contributing ideas and supporting others’ plans.”
33. “One area for improvement is to be more open to constructive feedback from your colleagues. How can we help you feel more comfortable embracing your team members’ insights?”
34. “Sometimes I feel out of the loop on progress. Let’s explore new virtual communication strategies to improve our collaboration.”

How to conduct an effective performance review

Whether you need to polish your feedback strategy or learn how to write a performance review, here are a few helpful dos and don’ts:

• Do prepare employee evaluations in advance. Review previous performance reviews, anticipate questions, and brainstorm goals for the next performance cycle. 
• Don’t surprise your employees. Instead, allow them to prepare and share their reflections, especially if it’s a comprehensive 360-degree survey. 
• Do use specific examples. Highlight particular achievements or areas for improvement to build actionable next steps together. 
• Don’t focus exclusively on the negatives. Demonstrate care with a mix of constructive criticism and positive feedback.
• Do encourage self-assessment. Ask employees to evaluate their performance, nurturing a mutually beneficial dialogue. Consider including a self-assessment in your employee handbook for easy access.
• Don’t compare employees to one another. Focus on individual performance and growth rather than competition with colleagues.
• Do set expectations. Let employees know what the conversation is about (e.g., professional growth, not renegotiating compensation plans).

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to support your team members’ professional development.

Empower your team with careful dialogue

Thoughtful employee performance reviews ensure employees feel valued and supported while encouraging professional development. These growth opportunities are an example of the nonmonetary benefits that today’s workers crave. By offering benefits that truly meet their needs, you’ll boost satisfaction even further and help your employees thrive.

Thoughtful benefits and hands-on management take time and resources. The last thing your company needs is more paperwork to bog down the process. Fortunately, Oyster’s Benefits Advisor makes supporting your team and creating actionable review processes even easier while ensuring compliance with labor laws around the world. Try it out today.

About Oyster

Oyster is a global employment platform designed to enable visionary HR leaders to find, engage, pay, manage, develop, and take care of a thriving distributed workforce. Oyster lets growing companies give valued international team members the experience they deserve, without the usual headaches and expense.

Oyster enables hiring anywhere in the world—with reliable, compliant payroll, and great local benefits and perks.