Business English - Conducting and Participating in Performance Reviews

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

What is the main purpose of a performance review from both an employee's and a manager's perspective?
What makes a performance review constructive and motivating? What can make it a negative experience?
How can an employee best prepare to participate actively in their own performance review?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases (Vocabulary)

Let's explore some essential terms and phrases for effectively conducting and participating in performance reviews.

1. Feedback (noun): Information about reactions to a person's performance of a task, etc., used as a basis for improvement.

Example: Constructive feedback is essential for professional growth and development.

2. Objective (noun/adjective): (Noun) A thing aimed at or sought; a goal. (Adjective) Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

Example: One of my key objectives for the next quarter is to improve my project management skills. / It's important for managers to provide objective feedback during reviews.

3. Strength (noun): A good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing.

Example: Her main strength lies in her ability to analyze complex data and present it clearly.

4. Area for development (noun phrase): A skill or aspect of performance that could be improved.

Example: While your technical skills are excellent, public speaking is an area for development we can work on.

5. Set goals (verb phrase): To decide on aims or objectives that one wishes to achieve.

Example: During the performance review, we will discuss your achievements and set goals for the upcoming year.

Activity 3: Reading - A Constructive Performance Discussion

Read the following scenario about a manager conducting a performance review with a team member.

David, a team manager, was conducting an annual performance review with Sarah, one of his direct reports. He had prepared by reviewing Sarah's self-assessment and her performance against her objectives for the year.

"Hi Sarah, thanks for coming in," David began. "The purpose of this review is to discuss your performance over the past year, celebrate your achievements, and identify areas for development. Overall, you've had a very productive year." He started by highlighting Sarah's strengths. "Your analytical skills and attention to detail have been a real asset to the team, especially on the Alpha project. The feedback from clients on your work has been consistently positive." Sarah appreciated the specific examples. David then moved on to discuss an area for development. "One objective we can focus on for next year is enhancing your presentation skills for larger audiences. While your content is always excellent, building more confidence in delivery could be beneficial." They then collaboratively set goals for the next year, including Sarah attending a presentation skills workshop and taking the lead on presenting in two upcoming team meetings. David ensured the feedback was balanced and focused on growth, making it a constructive discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

After reading the passage, answer the following questions:

How did David prepare for Sarah's performance review?
How did David structure the review? What did he discuss first?
How did David address an "area for development" in a constructive way?
What was the outcome of the performance review in terms of future actions?

Activity 4: Role Play - Employee Participating in Their Review

Read the following dialogue with a partner. One person can be Mr. Chen (Manager), and the other can be Lisa (Employee).

Mr. Chen: Hi Lisa, welcome. As you know, today we're discussing your performance over the last six months. How do you feel things have been going from your perspective?

Lisa: Hi Mr. Chen. Overall, I feel I've made good progress, especially in meeting my sales objectives. I exceeded my target by 15% last quarter.

Mr. Chen: Yes, your sales performance has been outstanding, Lisa. That's a significant strength and a great achievement. The team really appreciates your contribution there. Are there any areas where you feel you faced challenges or see an area for development?

Lisa: Thank you. One area I'd like to improve is my proficiency with the new CRM software. I feel I could be more efficient if I had more advanced training on its reporting features.

Mr. Chen: That's good self-awareness. I agree that could be a valuable area for development. We can certainly arrange some advanced CRM training. What other objectives are you thinking about for the next review period?

Lisa: I'd like to set a goal to mentor a junior team member, if possible. I think I have enough experience now to provide useful feedback and guidance.

Mr. Chen: That's an excellent initiative, Lisa. Let's definitely incorporate that into your goals. It shows great leadership potential. We can also set a specific objective around mastering those CRM reporting features.

Lisa: That sounds great. I appreciate the constructive feedback and the opportunity to set these new goals.

Mr. Chen: My pleasure. The aim is to support your continued growth and success in the team.

Lisa: Thank you, Mr. Chen.

Discuss Together:

After reading or performing the dialogue, discuss the following with a partner:

How did Lisa actively participate in her performance review? What information did she share?
How did Mr. Chen provide feedback and help Lisa set new goals?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Setting SMART Goals

Objective: Practice discussing performance and setting goals using key vocabulary.

Scenario: Ben is in his performance review with his manager, Priya. They are discussing his past performance and future objectives. Fill in their parts of the dialogue using vocabulary from Activity 2.

Priya: "Ben, let's talk about your key achievements. One major of yours this year was successfully launching the new client portal. The from users has been very positive."

Ben: "Thank you, Priya. I'm really proud of how that project turned out. I think a key I brought to it was my project management skill."

Priya: "Absolutely. Now, looking forward, what's an you'd like to focus on? Perhaps a new skill or responsibility?"

Ben: "Yes, I'd like to improve my data analysis skills. I think that would be a valuable addition to my current role."

Priya: "That's a great idea. Let's around that. For example, 'Complete an advanced data analysis online course by the end of Q3.' How does that sound as a starting point?"

Try to fill in the blanks with the correct words or phrases from Activity 2.