Performance Review Guidelines
Creating Guidelines for Objective-Based Performance Reviews
This prompt helps HR teams design performance review guidelines centered around achieving predefined objectives. It emphasizes setting clear expectations, measuring outcomes, and aligning individual goals with broader company strategies.
Responsible:
HR/Recruiting
Accountable, Informed or Consulted:
HR, Leadership, Product, Engineering
THE PREP
Creating effective prompts involves tailoring them with detailed, relevant information and uploading documents that provide the best context. Prompts act as a framework to guide the response, but specificity and customization ensure the most accurate and helpful results. Use these prep tips to get the most out of this prompt:
Define clear objectives and key results (OKRs) or performance indicators (KPIs) for each role.
Gather data on previous objectives, successes, and challenges faced by employees.
Collaborate with managers to ensure objectives align with team and company goals.
THE PROMPT
Help design performance review guidelines focused on evaluating employees based on objective achievement for [specific role] at [specific software startup]. Focus on:
Defining Objectives: Recommending criteria, such as, ‘Set specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives aligned with team and company goals.’
Measuring Outcomes: Suggesting evaluation methods, like, ‘Assess progress based on key results, deliverables, or milestones achieved during the review period.’
Handling Missed Objectives: Proposing constructive approaches, such as, ‘Explore the reasons for unmet objectives and create an action plan to overcome obstacles in the future.’
Growth-Oriented Feedback: Including strategies, such as, ‘Use feedback sessions to identify additional resources, skills, or support needed to meet future objectives.’
Alignment with Company Strategy: Recommending long-term goal setting, like, ‘Encourage employees to set objectives that directly contribute to the organization’s strategic priorities.’
Provide a comprehensive set of objective-based performance review guidelines that ensure accountability while promoting continuous growth and alignment with company goals. If additional details about objectives or team dynamics are needed, ask clarifying questions to refine the guidelines.
Bonus Add-On Prompts
Propose strategies for integrating team-level objectives into individual performance reviews.
Suggest methods for tracking progress on objectives in real time for more effective evaluations.
Highlight techniques for using objective-based reviews to identify high-potential employees.
Use AI responsibly by verifying its outputs, as it may occasionally generate inaccurate or incomplete information. Treat AI as a tool to support your decision-making, ensuring human oversight and professional judgment for critical or sensitive use cases.
SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE
Focus on short-term versus long-term objectives based on the review period.
Include tips for emphasizing adaptability when objectives shift due to changing priorities.
Propose ways to integrate qualitative feedback into objective-based reviews.
Highlight tools like Asana, Trello, or Notion for tracking objectives and deliverables.
Add suggestions for tailoring objectives to remote or hybrid work setups.
WHEN TO USE
During reviews for roles with clear, measurable deliverables.
To align individual performance with strategic team or company objectives.
When implementing or refining OKR-based performance management systems.
WHEN NOT TO USE
For roles where objectives are undefined or difficult to measure.
If the company lacks a clear framework for tracking and evaluating objectives.