How To Comment on a Performance Review, With Examples

Performance reviews are a critical aspect of employee evaluation, where managers and supervisors provide feedback on an employee’s work throughout the year.

While it might be nerve-racking to receive feedback, performance reviews are a valuable opportunity for employees to express their thoughts. This might include comments on the accuracy of the review, suggestions for areas of improvement, and feedback on the review process.

Commenting on your performance review can help clarify misunderstandings, provide additional context for your work, and allow you to advocate for yourself and your accomplishments.

However, it’s important to approach commenting on your performance review or performance appraisal (PA) thoughtfully and strategically. This may involve taking time to complete some self-evaluation, reflect on the feedback you received, and identify specific areas where you agree or disagree with the review. Additionally, developing a plan for addressing any areas for improvement and communicating it to your manager or supervisor can be helpful.

In this article, we’ll explain how to effectively comment on your performance review.

What is self-evaluation?

​​Self-evaluation is the process of reflecting on one’s performance and accomplishments in a particular role or job.

During the performance review process, self-evaluation allows employees to provide their perspective on their work and highlight their achievements, strengths, and any areas for improvement. It’s an opportunity for employees to share their insights with their manager or supervisor regarding their performance.

Self-evaluation is important in performance management because it provides a more comprehensive and well-rounded view of an employee’s work. It can help managers and supervisors understand an employee’s perspective, identify areas where they may need additional support or resources, and highlight specific accomplishments or successes that may have gone unnoticed.

Additionally, self-evaluation can facilitate a more open and honest dialogue between the employee and their manager or supervisor, leading to more meaningful and effective feedback.

Importance of self-appraisal comments

A full understanding of an employee’s performance comes from open dialogue and communication. Simply asking managers to comment on employees’ performance can lead to several accomplishments being overlooked and criticism of their work without knowing the proper context.

This is where self-evaluation and self-appraisal comments come in. Evaluation comments allow employees to keep communication open. We explain some advantages of self-appraisal comments during the performance appraisal process:

• Self-reflection. Self-appraisal encourages employees to reflect on their performance and assess their strengths and weaknesses. This reflection can help them identify areas to improve, set realistic goals, and make a personal commitment to improve. Hopefully, they will not be surprised by any elements of the manager’s assessment.
• Ownership and accountability. Employees take ownership of their own performance and hold themselves accountable for their actions by self-appraisal. This can foster a sense of responsibility and boost employee engagement.
• Improved communication. Self-appraisal can improve communication between employees and their managers. By providing a clear and honest assessment of their work, employees can facilitate a more open and honest dialogue with their manager and work collaboratively to improve their performance.
• Fairness and objectivity. Self-appraisal can promote fairness and objectivity in the performance review process. Employees can help ensure their achievements and contributions are recognized and evaluated fairly by providing their perspectives.
• Career development. Self-appraisal can provide valuable insights into employees’ career development. Employees can enhance their skills and advance their careers by identifying areas for improvement and setting goals. Additionally, self-appraisal can help employees identify strengths and potential areas for growth, allowing them to make informed decisions about their career path.

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How to prepare performance review comments

By now, you understand why self-appraisal comments are important, but how can you write appropriate and impactful comments that help you through the appraisal process? We provide a step-by-step guide to preparing your performance review comments.

Comment preparation steps:

1. Review the job description
2. Gather feedback
3. Review your goals
4. Identify accomplishments
5. Assess areas of improvement
6. Prepare your comments

1. Review the job description

Before the performance review, take time to review your job description and performance goals. This can help you identify your manager’s expectations regarding your work and performance. A clear idea of company expectations regarding your role can help you assess whether you met or exceeded those expectations.

This fresh revisit is valuable immediately before you meet with the manager for your PA discussion. In addition, having a good understanding of expectations throughout the performance period will help to ensure you’re always working to  meet or exceed goals.  

2. Gather feedback

Consider gathering feedback from colleagues, customers, clients, and other stakeholders who work with you. This feedback can provide valuable insights into your performance and help you identify areas to improve.

You should ask for specific examples of your strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, remember to ask for feedback throughout the review period so that you have more comprehensive feedback to analyze.

3. Review your goals

As you prepare for your performance review, revisit your Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals and assess your progress toward achieving them. This could involve reviewing any milestones and metrics associated with each goal and assessing whether you’re on track to achieve them.

Reviewing employee goals and assessing your progress can ensure your self-appraisal comments are grounded in objective evidence and demonstrate your commitment to achieving your goals. This can help you make a strong case for your performance and contribute to a more meaningful and productive performance review process.

4. Identify accomplishments

List your accomplishments during the review period, including any projects completed, milestones and targets met or exceeded, and positive feedback from others. Here are some tips for identifying accomplishments for your performance review:

• Create an ongoing list. Keep an ongoing list of your accomplishments throughout the review period. This can help ensure you remember all your achievements instead of only the most recent ones.

• Be specific. When identifying accomplishments, be specific and provide details that demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, instead of noting you completed a project, share project outcomes and their impact on your team and the organization overall.

• Highlight targets met or exceeded. If you achieved or exceeded any targets set for you, be sure to highlight those. This can demonstrate your commitment to meeting performance expectations and contributing to the organization’s goals.

• Include positive feedback. If you received positive feedback from colleagues, customers, clients, or other stakeholders, include this in your list of accomplishments. Demonstrating that you’re valued by others and making a positive impact adds a personal perspective to the achievement of targets.

• Identify obstacles overcome. In addition to highlighting accomplishments, identify any obstacles you faced during the review period and how you overcame them. This can demonstrate your resilience and problem-solving skills.

5. Assess areas of improvement

Without assessing areas of improvement, you’ll be unable to write honest and authentic comments on your performance review that reflect your work through the review period.

Take a critical look at your work and identify any areas where you may have weaknesses. Acknowledging skills and attributes where you’re weak can be challenging, but being honest with yourself is important. This can help you identify areas where you want to improve and develop a plan to do so.

This assessment will prepare you for any questions your manager might ask about your areas of struggle. Expect a discussion about tasks where you may not have performed well and how you plan to overcome your weaknesses.

For example, you might be struggling with a lack of technical know-how that’s impacting the quality of your work. During your performance review, you could inform your manager that you intend to enroll in a technical skill online course or you can ask for additional training or mentorship.

6. Prepare your comments

You can start preparing comments for your performance review based on your self-assessment and gathering feedback from others. This ensures your manager has a well-rounded view of your performance. It also helps provide specific examples that support your comments.

For instance, if you exceeded expectations in bringing new business to your company, provide specific examples of the new clients you onboarded. On the other hand, if you need to improve in a particular area, such as interpersonal skills, provide specific examples of your challenges and what steps you’re taking to address them.

When sharing comments with your manager, be professional and respectful. Your goal is to provide constructive feedback, highlight your achievements, and acknowledge weaknesses—which can help you improve your performance and contribute more effectively to the organization.

Ideally, your manager will be receptive to your input and consider it when writing their review. Be proactive and prepare and share your list well before your manager is required to finalize a review. Often managers use the employee’s own input as the foundation for their review.

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20 sample performance review phrases for employees

Phrasing your thoughts effectively might be difficult, especially when you’re nervous or under pressure. To take some heat off, keep a few phrases and terms handy that can elevate your comments.

Let’s consider a few key competencies that most companies look for and show how you can formulate your comments around them. When you use these examples as starting points, add specifics from your actual work situation to support the claims.

Sample performance review phrases

1. Problem-solving
2. Time management
3. Teamwork
4. Job performance
5. Punctuality

1. Problem-solving

Problem-solving comments can illustrate your ability to analyze and resolve issues effectively and highlight constructive feedback for yourself. For example:

Positive feedback:

• “I consistently identify problems and propose effective solutions.”
• “I have been able to find new solutions to chronic problems.”

Areas of improvement:

• “I could improve my problem-solving skills by seeking more diverse perspectives and opinions when faced with a challenge.”
• “I struggle to solve problems under pressure but strive to improve my skills in this area.”

2. Time management

You can use positive comments and constructive feedback when addressing time management. For example:

‍Positive feedback:

• “I demonstrate a strong sense of urgency in completing tasks.”
• “I always stick to deadlines and try to complete my work ahead of time.”

Areas of improvement:

• “I could benefit from better planning and organization skills to help me manage my time more efficiently.”
• “I intend to start using scheduling tools to prioritize better and finish tasks on time.”

3. Teamwork

If you excel at teamwork, make sure to include positive comments around it. However, if you struggle to work as part of a team, this could be a good opportunity to give yourself constructive feedback about teamwork. For example:

Positive feedback:

• “I proactively contribute to team projects and support others as needed.”
• “I share ideas, techniques, and strategies with my team, so our work is up to par.”

Areas of improvement:

• “Different work styles or personalities have sometimes hindered my ability to work effectively in a team, but I’m taking action on adapting my approach.”
• “Being part of a team is new to me, but I’m learning how to engage effectively with others and contribute to a synergistic process.”

4. Job performance

When discussing your job performance, you can speak positively about it or share your struggles with your manager while promising to improve your output. For example:

Positive feedback:

• “I take ownership of my work and demonstrate a strong work ethic.”
• “I understand what’s expected of my role and deliver strong results.”

Areas of improvement:

• “I’m reaching out more to other team members to learn from their experience when I don’t fully understand a task or assignment.”
• “Sometimes, I find myself unprepared for the job expected of me, but I plan to sign up for courses to update my knowledge and skills.”

5. Punctuality

Based on your experience, you can address positive and constructive feedback when addressing punctuality. For example:

Positive feedback:

• “I provide advance notice of any expected delays or scheduling conflicts.”
• “I respect everyone’s time and have never made anyone wait for me during a meeting.”

Areas of improvement:

• “I could benefit from better communication with my manager and colleagues when running behind schedule to minimize the impact on others.”
• “I intend to schedule meetings in advance in the future so that my colleagues aren’t taken by surprise.”

Develop your skills and talent with Upwork

Self-evaluation is an essential part of the performance evaluation process, as it allows employees to reflect on their performance, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and set goals for improvement. By taking an honest and critical look at your work, you can provide your point of view to your manager and contribute to a more productive review process.

When approaching comments for your performance review, be specific and provide concrete examples of your achievements, challenges, and areas for growth. It’s important to focus on both the positive aspects of your performance and areas where you need to improve.

For employees wanting to continue developing their skills and talent, Upwork’s Resource Center is a great place to start. The Resource Center provides a wealth of information on various topics, including career development, freelancing, and entrepreneurship.

It also offers access to tools and resources, such as courses, webinars, and articles, to help employees learn new skills and develop professionally.