Understanding the
Performance Review Cycle

Step One: Clarify Your Expectations

The first step in the review process is to select the significant job elements particular to the employee’s position for review and rating. Typical performance appraisals will have five to seven categories, or elements, used to rate employee performance. These job elements should be jointly reviewed and agreed upon by both the supervisor and the employee.

Step Two: Set Performance Standards

Job elements describe what must be done to accomplish the job. Performance standards describe how the job will be done. Together, they provide a guideline for the employee’s performance and a basis for reviewing the employee’s success on the job. When setting standards for performance, it is important that the employee be involved in the process. This helps ensure that the employee understands the standards and also helps motivate the employee to achieve or exceed the standard. What follows is an example of performance standards for the position of administrative assistant.