Performance Review Template (Free Word Download)

A good performance review looks back at results, rates skills against a shared scale and agrees on what comes next. This free Word template gives managers and employees one structure for all three, so reviews are consistent across teams.

What's in the template

• Review details: employee, role, reviewer and review period
• Goals from the last review: result, evidence and a rating for each goal
• Seven core competencies rated by the employee and the manager on a 5-point scale, from "does not meet" to "exceptional"
• Strengths and development areas, each with concrete examples and the support offered
• Self-assessment questions for the employee to answer before the meeting
• Goals for the next period with success measures and due dates
• Overall rating, comments and sign-off

How to run the review

1. Send the template to the employee one week ahead and ask for the self-assessment.
2. Fill in your ratings separately, with an example for every score.
3. Discuss differences between self and manager ratings in the meeting; that is where the useful conversation is.
4. Agree on two or three goals for the next period and write them down together.
5. Calibrate ratings with other managers before they feed into pay or promotion decisions.

For more on review methods, see staff appraisals and 360-degree feedback.

Run reviews in flair

Templates in Word work for a handful of people. With performance reviews in flair, review cycles, self-assessments and reminders run automatically, and calibration lets managers compare ratings side by side before they are final.