AI Prompt Wednesday: Performance Reviews

AIPerformance Reviews

Jul 29

Written By Cate Urban

COPY. PASTE. CUSTOMIZE.

Act as an experienced HR Business Partner.
Using the notes below, write balanced, constructive performance feedback for an employee. Highlight accomplishments, areas for improvement, and future development opportunities.
Use the SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) model where appropriate. Keep the tone professional, specific, unbiased, and motivating.
End with three coaching questions the manager can ask during the review.

WHY THIS PROMPT WORKS

SAVES TIME

Turn messy notes into clear, cohesive feedback in seconds.

IMPROVES QUALITY

Structured, specific, and actionable feedback employees can use.

REDUCES BIAS

Encourages balanced feedback grounded in facts, not opinions.

DRIVES GROWTH

Focuses on development and future success, not just past performance.

BUILDS CONSISTENCY

Creates alignment across managers and departments company-wide.

USE THE SBI FRAMEWORK

Ground feedback in what happened, what was done, and the impact it had.

Be specific. Be fair. Be future-focused.

I — Impact

Share the result or impact of that behavior.

Example:
"...which helped the team stay aligned and delivered the project ahead of schedule."

S — Situation

Set the context.
When and where did it occur?

Example:
"During the Q2 client onboarding project in April..."

B — Behavior

Describe the specific actions or behaviors you observed.

Example:
"You took the lead on the kickoff meeting and created a clear project plan..."

HR PRO TIP

Always review AI-generated feedback for:

✓ Accuracy & Context

✓ Fairness & Objectivity

✓ Specific Examples

✓ Alignment to Company Values & Goals

✓ Legal & Compliance Considerations

3 QS TO INCLUDE IN EVERY REVIEW

What are you most proud of accomplishing since our last review?

What challenges or roadblocks have impacted your performance, and how can I support you?

What skills or opportunities would help you grow in your role and your career?

These spark better dialogue and stronger development conversations.

USE THIS FOR

Annual or Semi-Annual Reviews
Quarterly Check-Ins
Probationary Reviews
Promotion or Readiness Reviews
Development Conversations
Peer or 360 Feedback Summaries

Cate Urban

I founded Urban Web Renovations after 11 years of leading global marketing strategies for nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC. In each position I held, one thing remained the same – my passion for managing web sites and social media accounts for both organizations and major thought leaders.