Best examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities in 2024

Let’s start with what you probably came for: concrete sentences you can plug into your next review. These are written as if you’re a peer, not a manager.

You can adjust the tone (more formal or more casual) depending on your company culture, but the structure of these examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities will work almost anywhere.

Example of leadership: setting direction and vision

Positive feedback example
“Taylor consistently helps the team understand the ‘why’ behind our work. In sprint planning and project kickoffs, Taylor connects our tasks to broader company goals, which makes it easier for everyone to prioritize and stay focused. Their ability to translate high-level strategy into clear next steps is one of the best examples of leadership I’ve seen on our team this year.”

Growth-focused feedback example
“Taylor has strong ideas and a clear sense of direction, but sometimes those ideas stay in their head. I’d love to see Taylor share more of that thinking with the group earlier in the process, so the team can align around a shared vision instead of waiting for direction at the last minute.”

Why this works: You’re not just saying “good leader.” You’re describing visible behavior: explaining the why, connecting tasks to goals, and timing of communication.

For more on how clear goals support performance and leadership, see research from Harvard Business Review on goal setting and alignment: https://hbr.org/2017/11/the-performance-management-revolution

Examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities in communication

Leadership lives or dies on communication. Here are real examples you can use when a peer is (or isn’t) communicating like a leader.

Positive feedback examples include:
“Jordan communicates complex topics in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand, regardless of role or background. In cross-functional meetings, they pause to check for understanding and invite questions, which helps the whole group stay aligned.”

“During high-pressure moments, Jordan stays calm and keeps communication clear and factual. Their steady updates in Slack and during standups reduce anxiety and help the team focus on solutions instead of rumors or assumptions.”

Growth-focused example of feedback:
“Jordan has strong technical knowledge, but their updates can be hard to follow for people outside the engineering team. It would help if they could frame their messages in simpler language and highlight the impact on other teams, not just the technical details.”

These examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities show you how to be specific about how someone communicates, not just whether they’re ‘good’ at it.

For communication and leadership skills, the Center for Creative Leadership has useful resources: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/communication-skills/

Real examples of leadership in collaboration and influence

Modern leadership isn’t just about “being the boss.” It’s about influence, collaboration, and building trust across teams — especially in hybrid and remote work, which continues to be a major trend in 2024–2025.

Positive feedback examples include:
“Priya leads without relying on formal authority. She brings people from different departments together, listens to their constraints, and helps them find common ground. I’ve seen multiple projects move forward faster because of her ability to build consensus.”

“Even when Priya disagrees, she does it respectfully and focuses on shared goals. She asks thoughtful questions instead of shutting ideas down, which encourages open discussion and better decisions.”

Growth-focused example:
“Priya has strong opinions and valuable experience, but sometimes pushes her preferred solution too quickly. I’d like to see her spend more time exploring alternatives and inviting input before moving to a decision.”

Notice how these examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities highlight real behaviors: listening, building consensus, inviting input, and how disagreements are handled.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management outlines similar leadership behaviors in its leadership competencies model: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/performance-management/reference-materials/historical/leadership.pdf

Examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities in developing others

One of the clearest signs of leadership is how someone helps others grow. In 2024–2025, many organizations are emphasizing coaching-style leadership, not just task management.

Positive feedback examples include:
“Alex regularly takes time to mentor newer team members. Instead of just fixing issues, Alex walks them through the reasoning behind decisions and shares resources so they can solve similar problems independently next time.”

“Alex gives feedback in a way that feels safe and constructive. They focus on specific behaviors, share what they’ve observed, and offer suggestions without making people feel defensive. Several teammates have mentioned how much they’ve grown because of Alex’s guidance.”

Growth-focused example of feedback:
“Alex is highly capable and often jumps in to ‘just get it done.’ While this helps in the short term, it can limit learning opportunities for others. I’d like to see Alex delegate more and use those moments as chances to coach rather than taking everything on personally.”

These examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities show how to describe mentoring, feedback style, and delegation — all key leadership behaviors.

For more on coaching-style leadership, see this overview from the International Coaching Federation: https://coachingfederation.org/blog/coaching-leadership-style

Leadership under pressure: real examples for peer reviews

How someone behaves when things go wrong is often the best example of their leadership qualities.

Positive feedback examples include:
“When our system went down in March, Morgan immediately organized a quick huddle, clarified roles, and set up a single source of truth for updates. Their structured approach kept the incident response focused and prevented duplication of work.”

“Morgan doesn’t blame individuals when issues arise. Instead, they focus on understanding root causes and improving processes. This mindset encourages people to speak up about risks early, which has helped us avoid repeat incidents.”

Growth-focused example:
“In high-pressure situations, Morgan sometimes moves so quickly that they forget to communicate changes to the wider team. I’d encourage them to build in short check-in points so everyone stays informed and aligned during fast-moving incidents.”

Again, these examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities are grounded in specific events: an outage, a crisis, or a stressful project.

Examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities in inclusivity and psychological safety

Leadership in 2024–2025 is increasingly judged by how inclusive and psychologically safe a team feels. People notice which peers create space for different voices and which ones unintentionally shut them down.

Positive feedback examples include:
“Sam makes a real effort to include quieter team members in discussions. They regularly pause to ask, ‘We haven’t heard from everyone yet — does anyone have a different perspective?’ This has led to better ideas and more balanced decisions.”

“Sam is thoughtful about time zones and cultural differences when scheduling meetings and assigning work. Their awareness of these factors helps our global team feel respected and included.”

Growth-focused example of feedback:
“Sam is very engaged in discussions, but can sometimes dominate the conversation. I’d love to see them leave more space for others to contribute, especially teammates who may need a bit more time to speak up.”

These real examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities show how to comment on inclusion without turning it into a vague buzzword.

If you’re curious about the impact of psychological safety on team performance, Google’s Project Aristotle is a widely cited study: https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/

Examples of leadership in change and adaptability

With ongoing economic shifts, AI adoption, and hybrid work norms, adaptability is a leadership quality that shows up in almost every 2024–2025 job description.

Positive feedback examples include:
“When our team adopted the new project management tool, Riley quickly learned the features and shared clear, practical tips with the rest of us. Their willingness to experiment and document what worked made the transition smoother for everyone.”

“Riley stays open-minded about new approaches and encourages the team to test small changes instead of clinging to ‘how we’ve always done it.’ This mindset has helped us improve our workflow over the past year.”

Growth-focused example:
“Riley is highly consistent and reliable, but sometimes hesitant to adopt new tools or processes. I’d like to see Riley engage earlier in pilots or trials, so their thoughtful perspective can shape the changes instead of reacting to them after the fact.”

These examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities highlight adaptability, experimentation, and attitude toward change.

How to write your own examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities

Now that you’ve seen multiple real examples, let’s talk about how to create your own phrases instead of copying everything word-for-word.

Think of it as a simple three-part formula:

Start with a behavior, not a label.
Instead of: “Pat is a strong leader.”
Try: “Pat regularly organizes our weekly sync, sets a clear agenda, and follows up with action items so nothing falls through the cracks.”

Add context and impact.
Answer two questions in your sentence:

• When or where did this leadership show up?
• What difference did it make?

For example:
“During the Q2 product launch, Pat coordinated across marketing, sales, and support, which helped us hit our launch date with fewer last-minute escalations.”

Balance strengths and growth areas.
Most people show both strong and developing leadership qualities. Your best examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities will acknowledge both:

“Pat is excellent at organizing complex projects and keeping everyone on track. One area for growth would be involving the team earlier when setting priorities, so more voices are heard before decisions are locked in.”

This approach keeps your feedback honest, specific, and actionable.

FAQ: examples of leadership feedback in peer reviews

Q: What are some short examples of leadership feedback I can use in a peer review?
You can keep it brief and still be specific. For example:
“Jamie consistently steps up to coordinate cross-team work and keeps everyone informed about changes.”
“During tight deadlines, Jamie stays calm and helps the team focus on the next actionable step.”
“Jamie is a natural mentor to new hires and makes sure they feel supported during onboarding.”

Q: How do I give a constructive example of leadership feedback without sounding negative?
Pair a strength with a suggestion. For instance:
“Jordan brings strong ideas and energy to projects. I’d love to see them invite more input from quieter team members so everyone feels involved in decisions.”
You’re not attacking their character; you’re describing behavior and a path to improvement.

Q: Can I give leadership feedback to a peer who isn’t a manager?
Absolutely. Many of the best examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities come from people with no direct reports. You can comment on how they influence others, share knowledge, organize work, handle conflict, or support teammates — all of which are leadership behaviors, regardless of job title.

Q: What’s an example of leadership feedback for someone new to the role?
Try something like:
“Since stepping into the new role, Casey has done a great job listening to the team’s concerns and asking thoughtful questions before making decisions. As they grow, I’d encourage them to share more of their own perspective and vision so the team understands where we’re headed.”

Q: How many examples of leadership should I include in a peer review?
Quality matters more than quantity. One to three well-written, specific examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities are usually enough. Focus on the behaviors that had the biggest impact over the review period.

If you keep your feedback grounded in real situations, clear behaviors, and visible impact, your peer reviews will feel fair, helpful, and genuinely supportive of your coworkers’ leadership growth. And the more you practice writing these examples of peer review examples: leadership qualities, the easier it becomes to recognize and describe great leadership when you see it.