Performance Review Phrases to Use (and Ones to Avoid)

Language choices shape how feedback lands.

1. Use: "Consistently delivered X, with measurable impact of Y." Specific and evidence-based.
2. Avoid: "Needs to be more of a team player." Vague and hard to act on.
3. Use: "Would benefit from developing X skill, which would help with Y." Constructive and forward-looking.
4. Avoid: "Always" or "never" — absolute language rarely reflects reality accurately and tends to provoke defensiveness.

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