Claude Prompt for Performance Review

This prompt helps you write constructive, balanced performance reviews that motivate employees and drive growth. Perfect for managers, team leads, and HR professionals conducting evaluations. Claude will structure feedback that’s clear, actionable, and fair.

Works Best With: Claude | Also works with: ChatGPT, Gemini

The Prompt

Write a performance review for [EMPLOYEE NAME].

Employee context:
– Role: [JOB TITLE]
– Department: [TEAM/DEPARTMENT]
– Time in role: [DURATION]
– Review period: [TIMEFRAME COVERED]
– Reporting relationship: [DIRECT REPORT, INDIRECT, PEER REVIEW]

Performance data:
– Key accomplishments: [MAJOR WINS, PROJECTS COMPLETED, GOALS ACHIEVED]
– Areas of strength: [WHAT THEY DO WELL]
– Growth areas: [WHERE IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED]
– Specific examples: [CONCRETE SITUATIONS ILLUSTRATING PERFORMANCE]
– Impact on team/company: [BROADER CONTRIBUTION]
– Goals from last review: [WERE THEY MET?]

Review structure:

1. **Summary Statement**
   – Overall performance rating: [EXCEEDS, MEETS, NEEDS IMPROVEMENT]
   – One paragraph overview

2. **Key Strengths** (3-4 points)
   – Specific examples with impact

3. **Areas for Development** (2-3 points)
   – Constructive, actionable feedback
   – Frame as growth opportunities

4. **Goals for Next Period**
   – 3-5 SMART goals
   – Clear success metrics

5. **Development Recommendations**
   – Training, mentorship, or resources

Tone: Professional, balanced, motivating
Approach: Fact-based, not personal

Avoid:
– Vague generalities (“good team player”)
– Overly harsh criticism
– Comparing to other employees
– Personal opinions without evidence

When to Use This Prompt

• You’re conducting annual or quarterly performance reviews
• You need to deliver constructive feedback in a professional way
• You want consistent review quality across your team
• You’re struggling to articulate feedback clearly and fairly

What You’ll Get

Claude will generate a balanced summary statement providing clear overall assessment, documented strengths with specific examples showing real impact, constructive development areas framed as growth opportunities not failures, SMART goals with measurable outcomes for the next review period, actionable development recommendations including training or mentorship opportunities, and professional tone that motivates rather than demoralizes. The review is evidence-based and forward-looking, helping employees understand exactly where they stand and how to improve.

Why This Prompt Works

• Example requirement: Forcing specific examples prevents vague feedback like “good communicator”

• Growth framing: Positioning weaknesses as development areas maintains motivation

• SMART goals: Specific, measurable objectives give employees clear targets

• Balance emphasis: Structured format ensures both strengths and development areas get proper attention

How to Customize This Prompt

1. [EMPLOYEE NAME] — Their actual name
2. [JOB TITLE] — Role context: entry-level vs senior changes expectations
3. [TIME IN ROLE] — Tenure: someone new gets different evaluation than 5-year veteran
4. [REVIEW PERIOD] — Timeframe: “Q4 2024,” “January-June 2025”
5. [ACCOMPLISHMENTS] — Major wins: “launched new feature,” “exceeded sales quota by 30%”
6. [STRENGTHS] — What they excel at: “stakeholder management,” “technical problem-solving”
7. [GROWTH AREAS] — Improvement needs: “delegation,” “meeting deadlines,” “communication clarity”
8. [SPECIFIC EXAMPLES] — Concrete situations: “led the Q3 product launch,” “resolved major client issue”
9. [OVERALL RATING] — Performance level: exceeds/meets/needs improvement

Pro Tips

• Future focus: Add “emphasize forward-looking goals over past mistakes” for motivational reviews

• Promotion readiness: Request “assess readiness for next level” when considering advancement

• Difficult conversations: Ask “help me deliver this feedback compassionately” for challenging reviews

• Self-review integration: Include “compare to employee’s self-assessment” to identify perception gaps