This skill should be used when the user asks to "write a performance review", "draft a review", "aggregate feedback", mentions "review cycle", "perf review", "calibration", "ratings", "promotions", "self-assessment", or discusses performance evaluation for a team member.

Writing Performance Reviews

Review Drafting Workflow

Gather all context about the person: notes from 1:1s, project contributions, peer feedback
Search project tracker for completed work during the review period
Search chat for recognition, kudos, and feedback about this person
Check for accomplishments and challenges during the review period

Review Structure

Draft every review with these sections:

Summary (2-3 sentences): Overall assessment and trajectory. Start with impact, not effort.

Key accomplishments: 3-5 specific, measurable achievements. Each should follow the pattern: "Did [what] which resulted in [measurable impact]."

Strengths: 2-3 demonstrated competencies with concrete examples from the review period.

Growth areas: 1-2 development opportunities framed constructively with actionable suggestions. Avoid vague feedback like "improve communication" — be specific about what and how.

Goals for next period: 2-3 specific, measurable objectives aligned with career trajectory.

Rating recommendation: Based on company rubric if available.

Feedback Aggregation

When aggregating peer feedback from multiple sources:

Group themes across all feedback providers
Identify patterns mentioned by 2+ reviewers — these carry the most weight
Flag contradictions for the manager to investigate directly
Preserve specific quotes as supporting evidence (with attribution)
Summarize in a balanced, constructive tone
Separate signal from noise: one-off comments may reflect a single interaction, not a pattern

Self-Assessment Prompts

Generate tailored self-assessment prompts based on the person's role and level:

"Describe your most significant technical contribution this period and its business impact"
"What was your biggest challenge, and what did you learn from it?"
"How did you contribute to the team beyond your individual deliverables?"
"What support or resources would help you grow in the next period?"
"What feedback have you received that you've acted on?"

Calibration Preparation

When preparing for calibration meetings:

Compile comparative data across direct reports in a summary table
Show the distribution of proposed ratings
Flag any potential bias patterns (recency bias, halo effect, similarity bias)
Prepare a 2-3 sentence justification narrative for each rating
Identify borderline cases that need discussion
Note any significant changes from the previous review cycle