Day 3 of 5
⏱ ~60 minutes
AI for HR — Day 3

Performance Management: Documentation, Reviews, and Feedback

Performance documentation and reviews are among the most time-consuming and anxiety-producing HR tasks. AI does not make the hard judgment calls — but it dramatically speeds up the paperwork and helps managers find the right words.

Performance Review Drafting

Managers often stall on performance reviews because staring at a blank document is hard. AI gives them a starting point in minutes. The manager still owns the assessment — AI just removes the friction of starting.

Performance Review Starter Prompt
Help me draft a performance review for an employee.

Role: [job title]
Review period: [Q1-Q4 or full year]
Key accomplishments: [bullet points of what they achieved]
Areas for improvement: [bullet points]
Overall performance level: [exceeds/meets/below expectations]
Specific examples I want to include: [list them]

Write a balanced, professional performance review that:
- Opens with the overall assessment
- Highlights 3-4 specific accomplishments with context
- Addresses 2-3 development areas constructively
- Closes with goals for the next period
- Uses specific examples, not generic praise or criticism

Tone: direct but supportive. No corporate filler phrases.

Documenting Performance Issues

When performance or behavior issues arise, documentation is essential for legal protection and fair process. AI can help draft clear, factual documentation — but the facts must come from you.

Performance Issue Documentation Prompt
Draft a performance improvement plan (PIP) for:

Employee: [title/role, not name for drafting purposes]
Issue: [describe the specific performance or behavior issue]
Specific incidents: [list dates and specific examples]
Previous conversations: [what has been discussed before]
Expectations: [what "meeting expectations" looks like]
Timeline: [30/60/90 days]
Support offered: [coaching, training, resources]
Consequences if not met: [be clear and specific]

Write a PIP document that is:
- Factual and specific (no vague "attitude" complaints)
- Focused on observable behavior and outcomes
- Clear about what success looks like and by when
- Legally defensible: no protected class language
⚠️
Legal review required: Any performance documentation, PIPs, or termination-related documents should be reviewed by your employment attorney or HR legal counsel before delivery. AI drafts are starting points, not final documents.

360 Feedback Synthesis

When you have collected 360 feedback from multiple reviewers, AI can help synthesize the themes quickly without losing the nuance.

360 Feedback Synthesis Prompt
I have collected the following 360 feedback responses
for a manager. Synthesize the key themes.

[PASTE ANONYMIZED FEEDBACK RESPONSES]

Identify:
1. Top 3 strengths mentioned across multiple reviewers
2. Top 3 development areas mentioned across reviewers
3. Any outlier responses that contradict the majority
4. One specific, actionable recommendation for each
   development area

Present as a clean summary the manager can read in
under 5 minutes. Do not name specific reviewers.
Day 3 Exercise
Draft a Performance Review Using AI
  1. Think of an employee you review (or use a hypothetical scenario).
  2. Write bullet points of their accomplishments and development areas from your own knowledge.
  3. Run the performance review prompt with your inputs.
  4. Edit the AI draft — remove anything generic, add your specific knowledge.
  5. Notice: what did the AI structure well that you would have left fuzzy?

Day 3 Summary

  • AI removes the friction of starting performance reviews — managers need a starting point, not a blank page.
  • PIPs must be factual, specific, and behavior-focused. AI helps draft them but you supply the facts.
  • Always have employment counsel review PIP and termination documents before delivery.
  • 360 feedback synthesis helps surface themes across many responses quickly.
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