ChatGPT Prompt for Performance Review

This prompt helps managers write thoughtful, balanced performance reviews that motivate employees and provide actionable feedback. Perfect for team leads, HR professionals, and managers conducting annual or quarterly reviews. ChatGPT will structure your review to recognize achievements while addressing growth areas constructively.

Works Best With: ChatGPT (GPT-4 recommended) | Also works with: Claude, Gemini

The Prompt

Write a performance review for [EMPLOYEE NAME], [JOB TITLE], covering [TIME PERIOD].

Employee context:
– Key responsibilities: [MAIN JOB DUTIES]
– Team/department: [WHERE THEY WORK]
– Reporting structure: [WHO THEY REPORT TO]

Performance highlights:
– Major achievements: [LIST 3-5 ACCOMPLISHMENTS]
– Strengths demonstrated: [SKILLS OR BEHAVIORS THEY EXCEL AT]
– Positive impact on team/company: [HOW THEY CONTRIBUTED]

Areas for development:
– Skills to improve: [1-3 GROWTH AREAS]
– Specific examples of challenges: [SITUATIONS WHERE THEY STRUGGLED]
– Support needed: [WHAT WOULD HELP THEM IMPROVE]

Goals for next period:
– Performance objectives: [WHAT THEY SHOULD ACHIEVE]
– Development goals: [SKILLS TO BUILD]

Create a review with these sections:
1. Summary (overall assessment in 2-3 sentences)
2. Key Achievements (specific accomplishments with impact)
3. Strengths (what they do exceptionally well)
4. Areas for Growth (constructive feedback with examples)
5. Goals & Development Plan (clear objectives for next period)
6. Manager’s Support (how you’ll help them succeed)

Tone: Professional, balanced, and encouraging. Focus on specific behaviors and outcomes, not vague generalizations.

When to Use This Prompt

• You’re conducting annual or mid-year performance reviews
• You need to document employee performance for promotion or compensation decisions
• You want to provide structured, actionable feedback instead of vague comments
• You’re managing multiple direct reports and need consistency across reviews

What You’ll Get

The AI will generate a professional performance review with an executive summary that captures overall performance, detailed achievements section with specific examples and measurable impact, strengths analysis that reinforces positive behaviors, constructive growth feedback tied to concrete situations not personal attacks, clear forward-looking goals with actionable development plans, and explicit manager support commitments. The review balances recognition with honest feedback while maintaining an encouraging tone.

Why This Prompt Works

• Structured framework: The 6-section format ensures comprehensive coverage from achievements to future goals

• Specific examples required: Requesting concrete situations prevents vague feedback like “needs improvement” without context

• Balanced approach: Explicitly including both strengths and growth areas creates fair, motivating reviews

• Forward-looking emphasis: Goals section transforms the review from backward assessment to development roadmap

How to Customize This Prompt

1. [EMPLOYEE NAME] — Use their actual name for personalization
2. [JOB TITLE] — Include role to ensure feedback aligns with expectations
3. [TIME PERIOD] — Specify review period: “Q4 2024,” “January-June 2025,” “past year”
4. [MAIN JOB DUTIES] — List 3-5 core responsibilities to frame evaluation
5. [LIST ACCOMPLISHMENTS] — Be specific: “Led project that increased revenue 15%” not “did good work”
6. [SKILLS THEY EXCEL AT] — Name specific strengths: “stakeholder communication,” “data analysis”
7. [GROWTH AREAS] — Identify 1-3 skills to develop, tied to specific examples
8. [WHAT THEY SHOULD ACHIEVE] — Set clear, measurable objectives for next period

Pro Tips

• Include peer feedback: Add “incorporate input from [colleague names]” if you gathered 360-degree feedback

• Rating alignment: If your company uses numerical ratings, include “this review supports a [X/5] rating” to ensure consistency

• Difficult conversations: For underperformers, add “this is part of a performance improvement plan” and request clear expectations

• Promotion cases: Request “emphasize readiness for [next role]” when reviewing high performers you want to advance