Why Performance Reviews Are Hard
Performance review season is the one time of year that makes otherwise confident managers stare at a blank document for twenty minutes. You know what you want to say. You just cannot figure out how to say it well, fairly, and specifically enough to actually help someone grow.
The challenge multiplies with every direct report. By the fifth review, your language starts blurring together. “Consistently delivers high-quality work” shows up in three different reviews. You know each person is different, but finding the right words for each one takes real effort.
AI can help with the articulation part. Not by writing reviews for you — that would be dishonest and unhelpful — but by helping you organize your thoughts and express them clearly. You bring the observations and context. AI helps you structure and communicate them.
Insight
The Right Way to Use AI for Reviews
Before we get to the templates, let’s set some ground rules. AI-assisted reviews can be genuinely helpful or deeply problematic depending on how you use them.
What AI is good at: Structuring your thoughts, improving clarity, suggesting professional phrasing, ensuring you cover all important areas, and maintaining consistent quality across multiple reviews.
What AI should never do: Invent accomplishments, fabricate specific examples, generate feedback you have not actually observed, or replace the human judgment that makes reviews meaningful.
The templates below follow a simple pattern: you provide the facts, observations, and context. AI helps you articulate them in a structured, professional format. Every placeholder in brackets is something you fill in from your own experience with this person.
Warning
Manager Review Prompts
These templates cover the most common review scenarios managers face. Each one is structured so you provide the facts and context, and AI helps you write a clear, fair, and actionable review.
Strong Performer Review
For team members who are meeting or exceeding expectations. The challenge here is being specific enough that the review feels personal and meaningful, not generic praise.
I need to write a performance review for a strong performer on my team. Help me draft a thorough, specific review based on the information I provide below. Do not invent any examples or accomplishments — use only what I give you. EMPLOYEE CONTEXT: - Name: [EMPLOYEE NAME] - Role: [JOB TITLE] - Review period: [START DATE] to [END DATE] - Time in role: [DURATION] KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PERIOD: 1. [SPECIFIC PROJECT OR ACHIEVEMENT — what they did, what the result was] 2. [SPECIFIC PROJECT OR ACHIEVEMENT] 3. [SPECIFIC PROJECT OR ACHIEVEMENT] STRENGTHS I HAVE OBSERVED: - [STRENGTH 1 — with a brief example of when I saw this] - [STRENGTH 2 — with a brief example] - [STRENGTH 3 — with a brief example] AREAS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH: - [AREA 1 — even strong performers have growth edges. What is theirs?] - [AREA 2 — optional] GOALS FOR NEXT PERIOD: - [GOAL 1 — what you want them to focus on next] - [GOAL 2 — optional] OVERALL RATING: [Exceeds expectations / Meets expectations / etc.] Please write the review in a professional but warm tone. Structure it with these sections: 1. Summary (2-3 sentences capturing overall performance) 2. Key Accomplishments (expand on what I provided with professional language) 3. Strengths (describe each strength with the context I gave) 4. Growth Opportunities (frame constructively, as development areas not weaknesses) 5. Goals and Expectations for Next Period 6. Closing statement Keep the total length to approximately 400-600 words.
- Be specific about impact: “Led the API migration that reduced response times by 40%” beats “did great technical work”
- Include growth areas: Even your best people benefit from knowing where they can develop further
- Connect to career goals: If you know their aspirations, reference how their work advances them
- Avoid inflation: Credible praise is more valuable than effusive praise
Needs Improvement Review
The hardest review to write. You need to be honest about shortfalls while remaining constructive and fair. The prompt below helps you strike that balance.
I need to write a performance review for a team member who is not meeting expectations in some areas. Help me draft a review that is honest, constructive, and fair. The tone should be direct but supportive — this is about helping them improve, not punishing them. Do not soften the message to the point of being unclear. Do not invent any details. EMPLOYEE CONTEXT: - Name: [EMPLOYEE NAME] - Role: [JOB TITLE] - Review period: [START DATE] to [END DATE] - Time in role: [DURATION] - Previous review rating: [RATING, if applicable] AREAS WHERE THEY ARE FALLING SHORT: 1. [SPECIFIC AREA — describe what you expected vs. what happened. Include a concrete example.] 2. [SPECIFIC AREA — with example] 3. [SPECIFIC AREA — with example, if applicable] WHAT THEY ARE DOING WELL (be fair — acknowledge strengths): - [STRENGTH 1 — with example] - [STRENGTH 2 — with example] CONTEXT THAT MATTERS: - [Any mitigating factors: team changes, shifting priorities, personal circumstances they have shared, resource constraints, etc.] WHAT IMPROVEMENT LOOKS LIKE: - [SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE expectation for Area 1] - [SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE expectation for Area 2] - [Timeline for reassessment: e.g., 30/60/90 days] SUPPORT YOU WILL PROVIDE: - [What you will do to help: additional 1:1s, training, mentorship, adjusted workload, etc.] OVERALL RATING: [Below expectations / Partially meets expectations / etc.] Please write the review with these sections: 1. Summary (honest overall assessment in 2-3 sentences) 2. Strengths (acknowledge what is working — this builds trust for the harder feedback) 3. Areas Requiring Improvement (clear, specific, with examples I provided) 4. Improvement Plan (concrete steps and timeline) 5. Support and Resources (what the company/manager will provide) 6. Closing (reaffirm belief in their ability to improve, set clear expectations) Keep the total length to approximately 500-700 words. Use direct language — avoid phrases like "perhaps consider" or "might want to think about." Be clear about what needs to change.
Pro Tip
New Team Member Review (First 90 Days)
Early reviews set the tone for a new hire’s trajectory. The focus should be on onboarding progress, cultural fit, and early signals — not full performance against established benchmarks.
I need to write a 90-day review for a new team member. This is their first formal check-in since joining. The review should set clear expectations while acknowledging the learning curve of a new role. Do not invent any details. EMPLOYEE CONTEXT: - Name: [EMPLOYEE NAME] - Role: [JOB TITLE] - Start date: [DATE] - Hired from: [PREVIOUS COMPANY/ROLE or NEW GRAD] ONBOARDING PROGRESS: - Technical ramp-up: [How quickly are they getting up to speed? What have they shipped or completed?] - Team integration: [How are they fitting in? Are they asking good questions? Collaborating effectively?] - Independence level: [Still need heavy guidance, or starting to work autonomously?] EARLY WINS: - [SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION 1 — even small wins matter at this stage] - [SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION 2] AREAS TO WATCH: - [AREA 1 — not necessarily a problem yet, but something to develop] - [AREA 2 — optional] EXPECTATIONS FOR MONTHS 3-6: - [WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE — specific milestones or capabilities] - [KEY PROJECT OR RESPONSIBILITY they should own by month 6] Please write the review with these sections: 1. Welcome and Context (acknowledge this is an early check-in, not a full evaluation) 2. Onboarding Assessment (how the ramp-up is going) 3. Early Contributions (highlight wins to build confidence) 4. Development Focus (areas to grow into, framed as opportunities) 5. Expectations Going Forward (clear milestones for the next period) 6. Closing (encouraging tone, open door for questions) Keep the total length to approximately 300-450 words. Tone should be encouraging and forward-looking.
Promotion-Ready Review
When you are building the case for a promotion, your review needs to clearly demonstrate that this person is already operating at the next level. This template helps you make that case with evidence.
I need to write a performance review that supports a promotion case. The review should clearly demonstrate that this person is already performing at the next level. Help me write a compelling, evidence-based review. Do not invent any accomplishments or details. EMPLOYEE CONTEXT: - Name: [EMPLOYEE NAME] - Current role: [CURRENT TITLE AND LEVEL] - Proposed promotion to: [TARGET TITLE AND LEVEL] - Time in current role: [DURATION] EVIDENCE THEY ARE OPERATING AT THE NEXT LEVEL: 1. [EXAMPLE — describe a project, decision, or behavior that demonstrates next-level capability] 2. [EXAMPLE — include scope, impact, and what made this beyond their current level] 3. [EXAMPLE — leadership, influence, or technical depth that matches the target role] IMPACT AND RESULTS: - [QUANTIFIABLE RESULT 1 — revenue, efficiency, team growth, etc.] - [QUANTIFIABLE RESULT 2] - [QUALITATIVE IMPACT — culture, mentorship, cross-team influence] PEER AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK (if available): - [QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE from a colleague, skip-level, or cross-functional partner] - [ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK] GROWTH AREAS AT THE NEXT LEVEL: - [WHAT THEY WILL NEED TO DEVELOP — no one is perfect, and acknowledging this strengthens the case] Please write the review with these sections: 1. Executive Summary (2-3 sentences making the promotion case) 2. Performance at Current Level (strong foundation) 3. Evidence of Next-Level Performance (the core argument, using my examples) 4. Impact and Results (quantified where possible) 5. Stakeholder Perspective (if I provided feedback) 6. Development at the Next Level (growth areas to watch) 7. Recommendation (clear statement supporting promotion) Keep the total length to approximately 500-700 words. Tone should be confident and factual — let the evidence speak.
Self-Evaluation Prompts
Writing about yourself is awkward. Most people either undersell their contributions or write vague summaries that do not help their manager advocate for them. These templates help you present your work clearly and confidently.
Comprehensive Self-Evaluation
A thorough self-evaluation that covers all the areas your manager and HR team typically want to see.
Help me write a comprehensive self-evaluation for my performance review. I want it to be honest, specific, and well-organized. Do not exaggerate my contributions or invent details — use only what I provide. MY CONTEXT: - Role: [JOB TITLE] - Team/Department: [TEAM NAME] - Review period: [START DATE] to [END DATE] - My manager: [MANAGER NAME] MY KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PERIOD: 1. [PROJECT/ACHIEVEMENT — what I did, what the outcome was, who it helped] 2. [PROJECT/ACHIEVEMENT — include numbers if possible: revenue, time saved, users impacted] 3. [PROJECT/ACHIEVEMENT] 4. [PROJECT/ACHIEVEMENT — optional] GOALS FROM LAST REVIEW AND HOW I DID: - Goal 1: [GOAL] — Status: [Met / Exceeded / Partially met / Not met] — [Brief explanation] - Goal 2: [GOAL] — Status: [STATUS] — [Brief explanation] - Goal 3: [GOAL] — Status: [STATUS] — [Brief explanation] SKILLS I DEVELOPED: - [SKILL 1 — how I developed it and where I applied it] - [SKILL 2] AREAS WHERE I STRUGGLED OR WANT TO IMPROVE: - [AREA 1 — be honest. What would I do differently?] - [AREA 2] MY GOALS FOR NEXT PERIOD: - [GOAL 1] - [GOAL 2] Please write the self-evaluation with these sections: 1. Summary (2-3 sentences on my overall performance) 2. Key Accomplishments (expand on my list with professional, confident language — not arrogant) 3. Goal Progress (review each goal honestly) 4. Professional Development (skills and growth) 5. Self-Identified Improvement Areas (shows self-awareness) 6. Forward-Looking Goals 7. Closing (brief statement about my engagement and commitment) Keep it to 400-600 words. Tone should be confident but not boastful. First person throughout.
Achievement-Focused Self-Evaluation
When you are building a case for a raise or promotion, your self-evaluation needs to clearly demonstrate impact. This template helps you quantify and present your contributions.
Help me write an achievement-focused self-evaluation that clearly demonstrates my impact and value. I am using this to support a case for [PROMOTION / RAISE / EXPANDED ROLE]. Keep it factual and evidence-based. Do not exaggerate. MY CONTEXT: - Current role: [JOB TITLE] - Time in role: [DURATION] - What I am aiming for: [PROMOTION TARGET / RAISE / NEW RESPONSIBILITY] HIGH-IMPACT CONTRIBUTIONS (ranked by business impact): 1. [CONTRIBUTION — describe what I did, the problem I solved, and the measurable result] 2. [CONTRIBUTION — include scope: team size, budget, revenue impact, etc.] 3. [CONTRIBUTION — highlight any above-and-beyond or cross-functional work] HOW I HAVE OPERATED BEYOND MY CURRENT ROLE: - [EXAMPLE — taking on responsibilities typically held by someone at the next level] - [EXAMPLE — leadership, mentorship, or strategic thinking beyond expectations] FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS (if available): - [QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE from manager, peer, or stakeholder] - [ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK] Please write the self-evaluation with these sections: 1. Impact Summary (3-4 sentences positioning my contributions) 2. Key Achievements (detailed, with business impact quantified where possible) 3. Operating Beyond Role (evidence of next-level performance) 4. Peer Recognition (if I provided feedback from others) 5. Forward Vision (what I plan to take on next, showing readiness for more) Keep it to 350-500 words. Tone should be confident, factual, and professional. Let the results speak.
Growth-Focused Self-Evaluation
Sometimes the most valuable self-evaluation focuses on how far you have come and where you are heading. This template is ideal when your biggest story is personal and professional growth.
Help me write a growth-focused self-evaluation that highlights my development trajectory. I want to show self-awareness, progress, and commitment to continued improvement. Do not invent details. MY CONTEXT: - Role: [JOB TITLE] - Review period: [START DATE] to [END DATE] - Where I started: [Briefly describe your skill level or situation at the start of this period] GROWTH AREAS AND PROGRESS: 1. [SKILL/AREA] — Where I was: [STARTING POINT] — Where I am now: [CURRENT STATE] — How I got here: [SPECIFIC ACTIONS — courses, mentorship, practice, stretch assignments] 2. [SKILL/AREA] — Where I was: [STARTING POINT] — Where I am now: [CURRENT STATE] — How I got here: [SPECIFIC ACTIONS] 3. [SKILL/AREA] — optional CHALLENGES I NAVIGATED: - [CHALLENGE 1 — what happened and what I learned from it] - [CHALLENGE 2 — how I handled it differently than I would have before] WHAT I WANT TO DEVELOP NEXT: - [AREA 1 — why this matters and my plan for developing it] - [AREA 2] Please write the self-evaluation with these sections: 1. Growth Summary (2-3 sentences on my development trajectory) 2. Key Growth Areas (expand on each with the before/after framing) 3. Lessons from Challenges (showing resilience and learning) 4. Development Plan (forward-looking commitments) 5. Closing (enthusiasm for continued growth) Keep it to 350-500 words. Tone should be reflective, honest, and forward-looking. First person throughout.
Peer Feedback Prompts
Peer feedback requests often come with little guidance and tight deadlines. You want to be helpful and honest, but it is hard to find the right words. These templates help you provide meaningful feedback quickly.
Help me write peer feedback for a 360 review. I want the feedback to be specific, balanced, and genuinely useful for this person's development. Do not invent observations — use only what I provide. CONTEXT: - My name: [YOUR NAME] - My role: [YOUR TITLE] - Person I am reviewing: [THEIR NAME] - Their role: [THEIR TITLE] - How we work together: [DESCRIPTION — same team, cross-functional, project-based, etc.] - How long we have worked together: [DURATION] WHAT THEY DO WELL: - [STRENGTH 1 — describe a specific situation where you saw this] - [STRENGTH 2 — with example] - [STRENGTH 3 — optional] WHERE THEY COULD IMPROVE: - [AREA 1 — describe what you have observed and why it matters. Be constructive.] - [AREA 2 — optional] OVERALL IMPRESSION: - [1-2 sentences on what it is like to work with this person] Please write the feedback with these sections: 1. Working Relationship (brief context on how we collaborate) 2. Strengths (specific, with the examples I provided) 3. Development Suggestions (constructive, framed as opportunities) 4. Summary (overall assessment in 2-3 sentences) Keep it to 200-350 words. Tone should be respectful, specific, and constructive. Third person (referring to them by name).
Help me write feedback about a cross-functional collaboration. This is for a peer review or project retrospective where I need to comment on someone from another team. Do not invent details. CONTEXT: - Project/Initiative: [PROJECT NAME] - Their name and role: [NAME, TITLE, TEAM] - My role in the project: [YOUR ROLE] - Duration of collaboration: [TIMEFRAME] WHAT WORKED WELL IN OUR COLLABORATION: - [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE — communication, deliverables, responsiveness, etc.] - [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE] WHAT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER: - [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE — missed deadlines, unclear communication, scope changes, etc.] WOULD I WANT TO WORK WITH THEM AGAIN? [Yes / Yes with caveats / Honestly, it was difficult — and briefly why] Please write concise cross-functional feedback with: 1. Collaboration Summary (what we worked on together) 2. What Went Well (specific contributions) 3. Suggestions for Future Collaborations (constructive) 4. Overall Assessment (1-2 sentences) Keep it to 150-250 words. Professional and factual tone.
Before & After: The Difference Structure Makes
See the difference between a vague review prompt and a structured one. The output quality is dramatically different.
Write a performance review for John. He's a good engineer who sometimes misses deadlines but does quality work. He's been on the team for 2 years.
I need to write a performance review for a team member. Help me draft a thorough, specific review based on the information I provide below. Do not invent any examples. EMPLOYEE CONTEXT: - Name: John Chen - Role: Senior Software Engineer - Review period: July 2025 to December 2025 - Time in role: 2 years KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1. Led the authentication service rewrite, reducing login failures by 62% 2. Mentored two junior engineers through their first production deployments 3. Designed the caching layer that cut API response times from 800ms to 120ms STRENGTHS: - Technical depth: Consistently finds elegant solutions to complex problems (auth rewrite is a prime example) - Mentorship: Both junior engineers he mentored received positive 90-day reviews AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: - Deadline estimation: Missed sprint commitments in 3 of 6 sprints. Tends to underestimate complexity. - Communication: Sometimes goes heads-down for days without updating the team on progress. IMPROVEMENT PLAN: - Break large tasks into smaller deliverables with intermediate checkpoints - Post daily async standup updates in Slack OVERALL RATING: Meets expectations with areas for growth Write with sections: Summary, Accomplishments, Strengths, Growth Areas, Improvement Plan, Closing. 400-600 words. Professional but warm tone.
Success
Common Mistakes to Avoid
AI-assisted reviews go wrong in predictable ways. Here is what to watch for.
Letting AI fabricate examples
If your prompt does not include specific accomplishments, AI will invent plausible-sounding ones. This is the fastest way to destroy trust with your team. Every specific claim in a review must come from your own observations.
Using AI to avoid difficult conversations
AI can help you write constructive feedback, but it cannot replace the human conversation. If someone is underperforming, the review is a document that supports the conversation you have in person. Do not hide behind polished AI prose to avoid a direct discussion.
Copy-pasting without personalization
AI output is a draft, not a final product. Read through every sentence. Does it sound like something you would actually say? Does it reflect how you genuinely feel about this person’s work? Edit until it does.
Writing all reviews in one sitting
Even with AI assistance, review quality drops when you write five in a row. Give each person the attention they deserve. Use AI to speed up the writing, but take breaks between reviews to reset your thinking.
Forgetting to acknowledge the full picture
A review that only covers strengths feels hollow. A review that only covers problems feels unfair. Every review should include both, regardless of overall rating. AI prompts that include both sections help you remember this.
Quick Reference
Use this table to quickly find the right prompt template for your situation.
| Scenario | Template | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly review for strong performer | Strong Performer Review | Specific praise, meaningful growth areas |
| Someone not meeting expectations | Needs Improvement Review | Direct feedback, clear improvement plan |
| New hire first check-in | New Team Member Review | Onboarding progress, forward expectations |
| Building a promotion case | Promotion-Ready Review | Evidence of next-level performance |
| Writing your own review | Comprehensive Self-Evaluation | Balanced view: wins, growth, goals |
| Self-eval for promotion or raise | Achievement-Focused Self-Eval | Impact and results, operating above level |
| Self-eval emphasizing learning | Growth-Focused Self-Eval | Before/after trajectory, self-awareness |
| 360 peer review | 360 Peer Feedback | Balanced strengths and suggestions |
| Cross-team collaboration feedback | Cross-Functional Feedback | Project-specific, actionable for future work |
Next Steps
These templates give you a solid starting point, but filling in every bracket and remembering which template to use still takes effort. That is what AskSmarter.ai automates.
Our prompt builder asks you targeted questions about your review scenario — the person’s role, your observations, the type of review — and constructs the optimal prompt for you. No copying templates. No forgetting sections. Just answer the questions and get a review-ready prompt.
Build review prompts in minutes
Stop copying templates and filling in brackets. AskSmarter’s prompt builder guides you through the right questions and generates review prompts tailored to your exact situation.
Start building free