More than just a list of what you’ve done over the past months, a self-performance review is an opportunity to reflect on your achievements, set new goals and areas for growth, and show how you’re contributing to your organization.
Self-reviews are becoming more common in the workplace, giving employees a voice in their performance assessment and providing managers with a clearer, more holistic view of each team member’s work and aspirations.
We’ll walk you through what a self-performance review is, why it matters, and, most importantly, how to write one that captures your value and sets you up for success. Plus, we’ll provide detailed self-performance review examples that can help you personalize your own review to different situations and goals.
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What is a self-performance review?
A self-performance review, sometimes called a self-assessment or self-evaluation, is a personal reflection on your work performance over a set period, typically covering your main achievements, strengths, areas for growth, and goals.
Unlike a traditional performance review where only your manager assesses your work, a self-evaluation for performance review allows you to take the lead.
For employers, they offer an inside look at how employees perceive their roles, progress, and contributions. For employees, they’re a chance to advocate for themselves, highlight key wins, and set the stage for potential promotions, raises, or other professional opportunities.
Self-performance reviews usually cover:
- Accomplishments: Summarize key projects, tasks, and goals you’ve completed successfully.
- Challenges: Reflect on areas that were particularly difficult and how you handled them or learned from the experience.
- Goals: Mention career goals you set for yourself and your progress toward achieving them.
- Teamwork: Highlight your collaboration with team members and how you contributed to the team's success.
- Future plans: Outline your plans for growth and areas you aim to improve or expand on in the future.
Why self-performance reviews matter
The benefits of a self-performance review go far beyond listing your accomplishments.
- It builds self-awareness. Taking time to assess your own work performance helps you better understand your strengths and areas where you may need improvement. This kind of self-reflection is key to personal growth, giving you a clearer sense of your unique skills and where you want to focus your development.
- It boosts accountability. By outlining your responsibilities and goals, you’re taking ownership of your role and showing your commitment to both your personal and team objectives.
- It enables goal alignment. A self-performance review gives you a chance to assess whether your professional goals align with those of your team or organization. This alignment directs your efforts toward shared priorities, making it easier to connect your personal development with the larger goals of the company.
- It improves manager communication. Self-reviews encourage open, honest dialogue with your manager, offering a platform to discuss performance, expectations, and career aspirations. By sharing your perspective, you’re fostering a more collaborative relationship, making it easier for your manager to support your development and recognize your contributions—including, potentially, that well-deserved promotion!
Preparing for your self-performance review
Preparation is key to writing a self-performance review that genuinely reflects your contributions and growth. Many companies use the SWOT analysis, dividing the self-performance review into four main areas: S for strengths, W for weaknesses, O for opportunities, and T for threats.
Here are some steps to help you thoughtfully prepare.
Reflect on your accomplishments
“Take time to self-reflect and ask yourself: ‘How am I different today than I was on Jan 1 (or the start date for your company’s review cycle)? What am I most proud of? What do I want for my career, and how am I positioned to get there?’” says Raisa Ramos, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) certified professional and HR director.
When selecting examples, focus on those that align with the skills or competencies you’re showcasing, like those that highlight both teamwork and your unique value. For instance, if you led a project with a colleague, be specific about your contribution.
Ramos offers this example:
Adriana and I worked together to successfully surpass this customer’s needs. My contribution specifically was our project plan. As project manager, my approach kept our team on track and ensured we met the required deadlines for the project, which was critical working under a reduced timeline of six weeks.
Consider challenges and growth
Think about the moments when you faced challenges and how you handled them, Ramos says. Were there specific situations where you adapted your approach or learned something valuable? Ask yourself the following questions:
- What may be holding me back from doing x or y?
- Have there been moments where my manager or teammates and I have been disconnected?
- If so, what happened?
Addressing challenges openly in your self-assessment not only shows how you’ve grown but also sets the stage for a constructive conversation with your manager about support or strategies you might need next to continue growing. This will bring even more value to the company.
Gather feedback
Review feedback from your peers, supervisors, or past performance reviews to get a well-rounded picture of how others perceive your strengths and areas for improvement. Look for emails and messages, and if you can’t find anything documented, ask them to write something for you. (Here’s how to ask for—and get—truly honest feedback.) Insights from others can help you balance self-perception with outside perspectives, enriching your self-evaluation performance review.
Set goals and priorities
Identify goals that will guide your growth and align with your team’s or company’s objectives. “Listing lots of goals simply because it looks good or fills the page isn’t going to get you successful, long-term results,” Ramos says. Quality over quantity is essential in goal setting.
Start by choosing one meaningful goal, and consider its impact on both your career and the organization. For instance, here is a self-performance review goal example: I will increase my confidence in presenting in public by signing up to share my knowledge of data analytics at the Lunch and Learn presentation in Q4.
Breaking goals into manageable steps like this and providing a realistic timeframe can make them more achievable.
How to write a self-performance review
Writing a self-performance review can feel daunting, but a well-organized structure can make the process more straightforward and impactful.
- Opening statement: Begin with a brief summary of your performance, including your approach to work over the past year. Think of this as your introduction—a snapshot of your contributions and work ethic.
- Accomplishments: Highlight your most notable achievements, providing specific examples and measurable results wherever possible. Metrics make your achievements more tangible and credible, helping your manager see the impact of your work and your value to the team.
- Areas of improvement: Be confident about your strengths, but also identify areas where you faced challenges and where there’s room for growth. Be honest about these moments, and include examples showing how you worked to adapt or overcome these challenges. This honesty reflects self-awareness and a willingness to learn, which are valuable to any team.
- Goal setting and future plans: Outline clear goals for the future, including personal development objectives and concrete steps to reach them. Link your accomplishments and goals to broader team or company objectives. Demonstrating alignment with organizational priorities reinforces the value of your work and shows that you’re invested in the team’s mission.
- Closing remarks: Wrap up with a positive, forward-looking statement that reaffirms your enthusiasm for your role and contributions to the team’s success.
Before submitting, review your self-performance review for clarity, professionalism, and accuracy. Typos or unclear language can detract from your message and give a bad impression, so polish each section to ensure it’s professional and easy to read.
Self-evaluation performance review: Examples for different scenarios
When writing a performance review for yourself, examples help bring your experiences and skills to life, giving your manager a clear picture of your contributions and growth areas.
Here are sample self-evaluations for performance reviews tailored to key areas of job performance. Each area includes options for showcasing your strengths and examples for improvement, allowing you to give a balanced perspective.
1. Job performance
Positive example
In my role as a project coordinator, I successfully managed the launch of our new product line, meeting all deadlines and staying within budget. By coordinating weekly team meetings and creating a tracking system, I ensured everyone stayed on task. As a result, the project was completed two weeks ahead of schedule, which contributed to a strong quarterly performance for our department.
Example for improvement
While I consistently met project deadlines, I recognize that there were times when my attention to detail could have been stronger. For future projects, I plan to implement a checklist system to reduce the chances of minor errors, ensuring a higher standard of work.
2. Team collaboration
Positive example
Throughout the year, I worked closely with my colleagues on various projects, often stepping up to assist others with challenging tasks. My ability to communicate openly and respect differing viewpoints helped us develop a more cohesive team dynamic, which contributed to a smoother workflow and faster project completion.
Example for improvement
Although I have a strong rapport with most team members, I realize there is room to improve my collaboration with colleagues in other departments. Moving forward, I intend to participate in more cross-departmental meetings to better understand their needs and perspectives, enhancing our teamwork.
3. Leadership
Positive example
In my role as team lead for our recent marketing campaign, I coordinated cross-functional teams, setting clear goals and establishing weekly check-ins. My efforts to foster open communication and accountability contributed to a highly collaborative environment, which resulted in a 20% increase in engagement over our projected targets.
Example for improvement
While I have been effective in guiding small teams, I recognize there are areas where I could enhance my leadership skills, especially when handling larger groups. I plan to attend leadership workshops to strengthen my conflict-resolution techniques, which will help me manage team dynamics more effectively in future projects.
4. Initiative
Positive example
This past quarter, I identified an opportunity to streamline our onboarding process by proposing an updated training module. After receiving approval, I collaborated with HR to implement the module, reducing onboarding time by 15%. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and new hires have reported feeling more prepared and supported in their roles.
Example for improvement
While I’ve taken the initiative on various tasks, I recognize that I could be more proactive in identifying areas for improvement beyond my immediate responsibilities. Moving forward, I intend to schedule regular check-ins with other departments to identify additional ways I can contribute to overall team and company goals.
5. Problem-solving and adaptability
Positive example
During the last quarter, our team faced unexpected supply chain delays, which impacted our production schedule. I quickly adapted by working closely with suppliers to identify alternative solutions, enabling us to minimize delays. My ability to stay calm under pressure helped the team maintain our targets, and we still achieved 95% of our planned output.
Example for improvement
In some cases, I found it challenging to pivot quickly when unforeseen issues arose. To improve, I plan to develop a list of contingency strategies for common challenges, allowing me to respond more efficiently and effectively in future situations.
6. Communication skills
Positive example
In my role, clear communication is essential. This year, I focused on improving my email and meeting summaries to ensure all team members understood key points and actions. By implementing a ‘recap and next steps’ format in all meeting notes, I helped reduce follow-up questions and increase productivity across our team.
Example for improvement
While I generally communicate well with my team, I noticed there were times when my feedback could have been more constructive. Moving forward, I plan to use a feedback framework that emphasizes positive reinforcement and specific improvement areas, fostering a more supportive environment.
7. Time management
Positive example
Throughout the last quarter, I successfully managed multiple high-priority projects by organizing my workload and setting clear deadlines. By breaking down tasks into manageable steps and prioritizing effectively, I was able to meet all project deadlines and even completed one project a week early, which gave our team extra time to refine our presentation.”
Example for improvement
While I consistently meet deadlines, I’ve noticed that certain unexpected tasks can occasionally disrupt my schedule, impacting my ability to complete all tasks as planned. To improve, I’m working on incorporating more buffer time into my weekly schedule, allowing me to handle last-minute responsibilities without sacrificing project quality.
8. Growth
Positive example
Over the past year, I took proactive steps to advance my skill set by completing a certification in data analytics. This new expertise has enabled me to contribute more meaningfully to our team’s data-driven decision-making process, and I’ve already applied these skills in two major projects, resulting in more informed and impactful outcomes.
Example for improvement
While I’ve focused on building technical skills, I recognize there are growth opportunities in developing my soft skills, particularly in public speaking. To address this, I’m planning to enroll in a communication workshop and seek opportunities to present in team meetings, which I believe will help me feel more confident when sharing insights with larger groups.
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