Performance Management Quick Reference Sheet
Tips for writing effective comments
Comments in a performance agreement are a permanent record that reflects not only on the employee’s performance but also on the supervisor/manager who wrote them. They should be written professionally, objectively and constructively.
The comments should address:
- How well the employee performed the assigned work objectives, as measured against the performance indicators;
- How frequently (or regularly or consistently) the employee demonstrated core competencies, through observed effective behaviours;
- Areas of performance that improved over the assessment period; and
- Areas of performance that might need further improvement
The comments should:
- Be objective;
- Be consistent with ongoing feedback;
- Be comprehensive;
- Be factual;
- Be specific; and
- End on a positive note.
To help you in writing effective comments and for examples, please go to the step 4 of the Assessing Performance and Determining Employee Ratings on the TBS Web site.