Mastering Employee Evaluations: Key Performance Review Questions

What is an employee performance review?

An employee performance review is a formal process conducted by an organization to assess an employee's job performance and provide feedback on their strengths, areas for improvement, and goals for the future.

Performance reviews are typically conducted annually, although some organizations may conduct a review cycle for them more frequently, such as quarterly or semi-annually. These annual performance reviews usually involve a face-to-face meeting between the employee and their manager.

During the review, the manager evaluates the employee's performance based on predetermined criteria, including job responsibilities, goals, skills, and behaviors. The manager then provides feedback on the employee's performance, acknowledges their strengths, identifies areas for improvement, and sets goals for the upcoming period.

Related: The 6 Top Employee Performance Management trends

Importance of employee performance review questions

Effective performance review questions are crucial for several reasons:

• Assessment of overall performance: Performance review questions allow managers to assess an employee's overall performance. This helps identify areas where the employee excels and areas where they need improvement.
  
  
• Feedback and development: Performance review questions facilitate feedback and development discussions. Constructive feedback helps employees understand their strengths and weaknesses and provides them with opportunities for improvement.
  
  
• Goal-setting: Performance review questions enable managers and employees to set goals for the upcoming period. Setting clear and measurable goals helps employees understand what is expected of them and motivates them to perform at their best.
  
  
• Employee engagement and motivation: Performance review questions allow employees to express their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations. Engaging in meaningful conversations during performance reviews can boost employee morale, motivation, and job satisfaction.

Useful Read: 6 Metrics to Measure Employee Engagement: The Employers Guide

• Performance improvement: Performance review questions related to areas of improvement help employees identify their weaknesses and work towards addressing them. Managers can provide guidance and support to help employees overcome challenges and improve their performance.

Performance review questions: Overall performance

Here are the questions:

• How would you rate your overall performance during the review period and why?
• What specific contributions did you make to the team/department/organization during the review period?
• What feedback have clients, customers, or colleagues received about your performance?
• In what ways have you exceeded expectations in your role?
• Have you encountered any challenges or obstacles that affected your performance during the review period? If so, how did you handle them?
• How well did you prioritize your tasks and responsibilities during the review period? Were there any areas where you could have improved in this regard?
• Can you provide examples of how you demonstrated initiative, innovation, or creativity in your work during the review period?
• How effectively did you communicate and collaborate with your team and other stakeholders during the review?
• How well did you adhere to deadlines and deliverables during the review period?
• What areas of your performance do you feel require further improvement and why?

Performance review questions: employee strengths

Here are the questions:

• What do you believe are the key strengths that you bring to your role and the organization?
• How have your strengths positively impacted your performance and contributions to the team/department/organization?
• Can you provide examples of how you have leveraged your strengths to overcome challenges or achieve significant results?
• In what ways have you demonstrated leadership skills or qualities in your role?
• How have you used your strengths to contribute to the success of the team/department/organization?
• What feedback have you received from colleagues or other stakeholders about your strengths and their impact on your work?
• How have you demonstrated expertise or specialized knowledge in your role?
• What unique perspectives or insights do you bring to your role that have added value to your team/department/organization?
• How have you effectively utilized your skills, abilities, or talents to accomplish your goals during the review period?
• How have you proactively sought opportunities to develop and utilize your strengths in your work?

Performance review questions: areas for improvement

Here are the questions:

• What areas of your performance or skills need improvement and why?
• Have you received feedback from colleagues, managers, or other stakeholders regarding areas where you can improve? If so, what have you done or plan to do to address these areas?
• Can you provide examples of challenges you faced during the review period and how they affected your performance? How could you have handled them differently to achieve better results?
• Are there any specific tasks, projects, or responsibilities you found particularly challenging? If so, what steps have you taken or will you take to improve your performance in these areas?
• In what ways have you sought feedback and actively worked on self-improvement during the review period?
• Have you encountered any obstacles or barriers that have hindered your performance? If so, what strategies have you employed or will you employ to overcome them in the future?
• How well have you managed your time and prioritized your tasks during the review period? Can you implement any strategies or techniques to improve in this area?
• Have you encountered any communication, collaboration, or teamwork issues during the review? If so, how have you addressed or planned to address them?
• What areas of professional development or training would help you improve your performance in your current role?
• How open are you to feedback and constructive criticism, and what steps have you taken to seek and implement feedback for improvement actively?

Performance review questions: goal-setting

Here are the questions:

• Did you achieve the goals set for you during the review period? If not, what were the reasons for not achieving them, and what steps could you have taken to improve your chances of achieving them?
• What goals did you set for yourself during the review period, and how did you work towards achieving them?
• Did you encounter any unexpected challenges or obstacles that affected your ability to meet your goals? If so, how did you handle them?
• How well did you align your goals with the overall objectives of the team/department/organization during the review period?
• Did you actively seek feedback or guidance on your progress toward your goals? If so, how did you incorporate that feedback into your performance?
• How effectively did you prioritize your goals and manage your time to ensure progress toward their achievement during the review period?
• Can you provide examples of specific actions you took to stay focused and motivated toward your goals during the review period?
• Did you set stretch goals for yourself during the review period? If so, how did you work towards achieving them?
• How did you measure the success or progress of your goals during the review period, and what insights did you gain from that measurement?
• What improvements or adjustments can you make in your goal-setting process to ensure better results in the future?

Employee scheduling and Time-tracking software!

• Easy Employee scheduling
• Clear time-tracking
• Simple absence management

Try for free Request a demo

Performance review questions: employee development and growth

Here are the questions:

• What steps have you taken to develop your skills, knowledge, or abilities during the review period?
• Have you participated in any training programs, workshops, or other professional development opportunities to enhance your own performance? If so, what have you learned, and how have you applied it?
• Can you provide examples of how you have sought feedback or input from colleagues or mentors to identify areas for improvement or growth?
• In what ways have you taken the initiative in identifying and pursuing opportunities for personal and professional growth in your role?
• Have you proactively sought challenging tasks or projects to expand your skills or knowledge during the review period? If so, what were they, and what did you learn from them?
• How well have you integrated feedback and lessons learned from previous performance reviews or development discussions into your work during the review period?
• During the review period, have you taken any steps to develop leadership skills, such as mentoring, coaching, or taking on leadership roles?
• What strategies or techniques have you employed to continuously improve your performance and contribute to your professional growth during the review period?
• Have you sought feedback from colleagues or managers on your career aspirations or goals? If so, how have you used that feedback to plan your development and growth?
• What additional opportunities or resources would you like to have to further develop your skills, knowledge, or abilities in your role?

Performance review questions: employee relationships with peers

Here are the questions:

• How well have you collaborated and worked with your peers during the review? Can you provide examples of successful collaborations?
• Have you encountered any challenges or conflicts with your peers during the review period? If so, how did you address them, and what did you learn from those experiences?
• Can you provide examples of how you have contributed to a positive and inclusive team culture through your interactions with your peers?
• In what ways have you demonstrated respect, empathy, and support toward your peers in your day-to-day interactions?
• How well have you communicated and shared information with your peers to foster effective collaboration and teamwork during the review period?
• Have you actively sought feedback from your peers on your performance or contributions? If so, how have you used that feedback to improve your relationships and interactions with them?
• Can you provide examples of how you have recognized or acknowledged the contributions of your peers to the team/department/organization during the review period?
• How have you demonstrated a willingness to listen to different perspectives and engage in constructive discussions with your peers to achieve common goals?
• Have you taken any initiatives to mentor or support the professional growth of your peers during the review period? If so, please provide examples.
• What improvements or strategies can you implement to enhance your relationships with your peers further and contribute to a positive team dynamic in the future?

Designing performance review questions

Designing effective employee review questions is critical for a meaningful and productive performance review process. Well-crafted questions can help managers and employees have constructive conversations about their performance, strengths, areas for improvement, and development opportunities.

Here are some pointers to consider when designing performance review questions:

• Be specific: Questions should be specific and targeted toward the employee's performance and job responsibilities. Avoid vague or generic questions that do not provide meaningful feedback or insights.
  
  
• Focus on behaviors and outcomes: Questions should be centered around observable behaviors and outcomes rather than personal traits or characteristics. This allows for objective performance evaluation and encourages employees to reflect on their actions and results.
  
  
• Use open-ended and closed-ended questions: Open-ended questions allow employees to provide detailed responses and insights. In contrast, closed-ended questions can help gather quantitative data for evaluation. Combining both types of questions can provide a well-rounded assessment of performance.
  
  
• Encourage self-assessment: Include questions that encourage employees to self-assess their performance, strengths, and areas for improvement. This promotes self-reflection and accountability and helps employees take ownership of their performance.
  
  
• Consider the organization's values and culture: Design questions that align with the organization's values and culture. This helps reinforce the organization's expectations and promotes consistency in performance evaluation.
  
  
• Keep it relevant: Tailor the questions to the employee's role and responsibilities and the goals and expectations for the performance review period. This ensures that the feedback and discussions are relevant and meaningful to the employee's performance.
  
  
• Test for clarity and simplicity: Review the questions to ensure they are clear, easy to understand, and free of jargon or technical language. Avoid complex or leading questions that may bias the responses.
  
  
• Involve employees in the process: Seek input from employees when designing performance review questions to ensure that the questions are relevant, fair, and inclusive. This also fosters employee engagement and ownership in the performance review process.

Conclusion

Conducting employee reviews using comprehensive questions allows organizations to objectively assess employees' performance, skills, and contributions. 

Employee evaluation questions provide valuable feedback for employees to understand their strengths and areas for improvement, set performance goals, and enhance their professional development.

Organizations can use well-structured review questions to ensure a fair and effective performance evaluation process that promotes employee growth and aligns with organizational goals and objectives.