Performance Review Feedback: Draft a Balanced Written Assessment

Review season has arrived and you are staring at a blank assessment box. Feed in the person, their tenure, the rating, the strengths, the development areas and a few real examples. You get a balanced written assessment that backs claims with incidents rather than vague praise. For managers writing reviews they would not mind defending in the room.

I am writing a formal performance review for {EMPLOYEE_NAME}, a {ROLE} who has been on my team for {TENURE}. Their overall rating is {RATING} (e.g. 'meets expectations', 'exceeds expectations', 'below expectations'). Key strengths observed this cycle: {STRENGTHS}. Key development areas: {DEVELOPMENT_AREAS}. Specific examples or incidents to reference: {EXAMPLES}. Draft a balanced written performance assessment of 200 to 300 words. It must be specific, evidence-based, and free of bias triggers (avoid gendered language, personality labels, or vague adjectives). Include one forward-looking development statement tied to the employee's growth. The tone should be professional, honest, and motivating.