#20 Talking About Traffic and Road Conditions｜English Expressions for Getting Around
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#87 Conducting Performance Reviews｜English Business Phrases
Izumi
In performance review meetings, it is important to clearly communicate an employee’s achievements and behavior and connect the evaluation to their future growth.
When conducting evaluations in English, it is essential not only to base feedback on facts, but also to present strengths and areas for improvement in a balanced manner.
In this article, I explain common English expressions used in performance review meetings, along with conversation examples and key grammar points.
Contents
Dialogue
Thank you for joining me today. I’d like to talk about your performance over the past six months.
Thank you. I’m ready to hear your thoughts.
Overall, you’ve done a solid job, especially in meeting deadlines and collaborating with the team.
I’m glad to hear that. Is there anything I should work on improving?
One area to focus on is communication during projects, particularly sharing updates more proactively.
I understand. I’ll make sure to keep the team informed more regularly.
That sounds good. Let’s set that as a goal for the next review period.
1. Starting a Performance Review Meeting
When beginning a performance review meeting, I clearly state the purpose and agenda at the start.
Example
- I’d like to talk about your performance over the past six months.
The word “performance” is a core term in performance reviews and refers to an employee’s results and work quality.
By adding a time expression such as “over the past six months,” I make the evaluation period clear.
2. Evaluating Strengths in a Specific Way
In performance reviews, I start by highlighting positive points to create an atmosphere in which the employee can listen with confidence.
Example
- You’ve done a solid job.
Here, “solid” means “reliable” or “consistent” and is well suited to objective evaluations.
Adding specific actions makes the feedback clearer and more meaningful.
Related Expressions
- especially in meeting deadlines
- and collaborating with the team
Rather than ending with vague praise, I make sure to clarify what was done well.
3. Communicating Areas for Improvement Constructively
Explaining areas for improvement requires careful wording. Instead of sounding negative, I frame them as opportunities for future growth.
Example
- One area to focus on is communication during projects, particularly sharing updates more proactively.
The phrase “area to focus on” avoids directly calling something a weakness and helps encourage improvement without damaging confidence.
The adverb “proactively,” meaning “on one’s own initiative,” is commonly used in performance reviews and management contexts.
4. Connecting the Review to Future Goals
A performance review should not end with evaluation alone. Its purpose is to lead to concrete next steps.
Example
- Let’s set that as a goal for the next review period.
The expression “Let’s ～” suggests collaboration and shared agreement, rather than a one-sided instruction.
Related Expressions
- Let’s work on this together.
- Let’s review your progress in three months.
Summary
Key English Phrases
- I’d like to talk about your performance.
→ A clear way to begin a performance review meeting. - You’ve done a solid job.
→ An objective and positive way to evaluate results. - One area to focus on is ～.
→ A constructive expression for discussing areas for improvement. - Let’s set that as a goal.
→ A phrase that connects evaluation to future action.
