Careers
HOW TO WRITE A GREAT PERFORMANCE REVIEW
By Shaun Mendonsa, PhD
December 22, 2020
PERFORMANCE APPRIASALS
What we’ve been taught by HR on how to write our performance review comments and phrases, is wrong. The cliched comments we’ve been fed could be hurting us. They might make our job performance look good, but rarely outstanding.
UNFAIR PERFORMANCE RATINGS
Writing An Effective Performance Review
Our bold approach avoids standard performance review phrases. Step 1 uses two subconscious influence techniques. Step 2 uses persuasive writing techniques to frame your accomplishments as memorable.
Pre-Suasion Or The Frontloading Of Attention
USING WORDS THAT POSITIVELY LINK TO A DESIRED EMOTION
“PSYCHOLINGUISTIC RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HUMAN SPEECH EVOLVED ONLY TO INFLUENCE OTHERS. AND NOT FOR EXPRESSING OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.”
PRE-SUASION
1
Thus, when you use a word or a phrase that is positively linked to an emotion or behavior, it increases the odds that your reader will feel that emotion or undertake that behavior.
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“CREATING THE RIGHT EMOTION IN THE OPENING STATEMENTS”
Identify the key message you want to convey.
THEN WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER YOUR MESSAGE LATER,
Subtly, raise in their consciousness related concepts.
THEY WILL BE SUBCONSCIOUSLY PRIMED (PRE-SUASIVELY) TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IT.
WORDS THAT PRE-SUADE
DESIRED MESSAGE/WORDS TO USE
Spark imagination
Deserving high rating
Get promoted
Get rewarded
Creativity, envision, dream
Worth, admirable
Elevated, raised, advanced
Prized, payoff, merit
Loss Aversion
RE-FRAMING YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DOUBLE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS
“IF YOU NEED TO CONVINCE YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR A HIGHER PERFORMANCE RATING FOR YOU, THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN YOU DESERVE IT.”
"A STRONG MOTIVATOR FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSURE, IS THE TENDENCY TO AVOID LOSSES."
LOSS AVERSION
2
Tweak a few of your key accomplishments in terms of what your company would have lost if it had not been for what you did for them. Let your company know what they will miss if they don’t promote you to the next level.
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PHRASES TO EMPHASIZE LOSS AVERSION
COMMON PHRASES/MORE PERSUASIVE
Saved $20,000 on project X
Got candidates to accept job offers
Completed projects ahead of schedule
Prevented company from losing $20,000
Ensured company did not lose top talent
Made sure time was not lost by completing projects
Persuasive Writing
80% OF EFFECTIVE WRITING CAN BE TAUGHT THROUGH A FEW IMPORTANT GUIDELINES. HERE ARE THE ONES THAT MATTER.
"USING COMPLEX LANGUAGE NEITHER MAKES YOU COME ACROSS AS INTELLIGENT, NOR IS IT PERSUASIVE. USE SIMPLE LANGUAGE THAT GETS YOUR POINT ACROSS."
WRITING TIPS
3
Use small, clear sentences. Present one point per sentence. Cognitive ease is provided to the reader through simple structuring. Drop unnecessary words. “My efforts were very much appreciated by the team,” reads better as “My efforts were appreciated by the team.”
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MAKE IT VISUAL
USE ACTIVE VOICE
USE PLAIN TALK THAT VISUALLY MAKES YOUR POINTS. FIFTH GRADER LANGUAGE AND IMAGINATION ARE ALL YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH.
TOP 5 PERFORMANCE REVIEW STRATEGIES
PRE-SUASION
EMOTION
LOSS AVERSION
PERSUASIVE WRITING
VISUALIZE
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Additional Reading
SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE NEXT YEAR’S PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
TALENT STACKS
HOW TO FAIL AT ALMOST EVERYTHING AND STILL WIN BIG: KIND OF THE STORY OF MY LIFE
BY SCOTT ADAMS