The best examples of positive performance review examples (that actually help people grow)

Strong examples of positive performance review examples for 2024–2025

Let’s start where you actually need help: the words. Below are examples of positive performance review examples you can adapt for your own team. Each one focuses on observable behavior, not personality, which is a best practice recommended by many HR and leadership programs (for example, those from Harvard Business School).

Communication: clear, respectful, and reliable

A lot of reviews live or die on communication. Instead of “Good communicator,” here are better examples:

• Email and written updates
  “You consistently write clear, concise updates that help the team make quick decisions. Your weekly status reports highlight risks early and make it easier for stakeholders to stay aligned.”

• Meetings and presentations
  “In cross-team meetings, you explain complex topics in plain language and check for understanding. This has reduced confusion and helped other departments move faster on shared projects.”

• Listening and feedback
  “You actively listen before responding, summarize what you’ve heard, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. This approach has created a more open environment where teammates feel heard and respected.”

These are the kinds of examples of positive performance review examples that turn generic praise into something people can recognize in their daily work.

Teamwork and collaboration: playing well with others

Modern performance reviews put more weight on collaboration than ever, especially in hybrid and remote teams. Here are review phrases that show exactly what good teamwork looks like:

• Cross-functional work
  “You regularly reach out to colleagues in other departments to understand their constraints and adapt your approach. Your collaboration with the marketing and product teams shortened our launch timeline by two weeks.”

• Supporting colleagues
  “You step in to help teammates without being asked, especially when deadlines are tight. Several colleagues have mentioned that your willingness to share knowledge makes their work easier and less stressful.”

• Conflict handled well
  “When disagreements arise, you stay calm and focus the conversation on facts and shared goals. Your ability to de-escalate tense situations has helped the team stay productive and respectful.”

These best examples of positive performance review examples show not just that someone is a “team player,” but how that shows up in everyday behaviors.

Performance and results: connecting effort to impact

Performance reviews in 2024–2025 are more data-driven, with many organizations using OKRs or similar goal frameworks. Positive feedback should connect behavior to measurable outcomes when possible.

• Meeting or exceeding goals
  “You exceeded your sales target by 18% this year while maintaining high customer satisfaction scores. Your consistent follow-through and thoughtful follow-up emails helped turn first-time buyers into repeat customers.”

• Quality of work
  “Your work is consistently accurate and well-organized, which reduces rework for the rest of the team. Over the last quarter, your error rate was one of the lowest on the team, even as your workload increased.”

• Ownership and reliability
  “When you commit to a deadline, the team can count on you to deliver. On the last three major projects, you hit every milestone and communicated early when you needed support or clarification.”

These real examples include numbers and outcomes, which helps the employee see the link between what they did and how it benefited the organization.

Leadership and initiative: with or without a manager title

Leadership isn’t just for people with “manager” in their job title. Modern reviews often highlight informal leadership as a path to promotion.

• Leading projects
  “You took the initiative to lead the Q3 process-improvement project, coordinating input from five departments. Your structured approach and clear timelines helped the team reduce processing time by 22%.”

• Developing others
  “You regularly mentor newer teammates, sharing practical tips and reviewing their work with patience and clarity. Several new hires have cited you as a key reason they ramped up quickly.”

• Decision-making
  “You make thoughtful decisions by gathering input, considering risks, and then moving forward confidently. Even when decisions are difficult, you communicate the reasoning clearly so others feel included in the process.”

If you’re looking for an example of positive performance review examples for future leaders, wording like this signals that leadership behaviors are noticed and valued.

Problem-solving and innovation: navigating change

From AI tools to shifting markets, work is changing fast. Managers in 2024–2025 are encouraged to highlight adaptability and problem-solving in reviews, which aligns with guidance from organizations like the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

• Creative solutions
  “You regularly identify process bottlenecks and propose practical solutions. Your idea to automate parts of the reporting workflow cut preparation time in half and freed the team to focus on analysis instead of data entry.”

• Handling ambiguity
  “When priorities shifted mid-project, you stayed flexible and focused on the new goals instead of getting stuck on the original plan. Your ability to adapt helped the team deliver on time despite changing requirements.”

• Using data and tools
  “You actively explore new tools and use data to guide decisions. Your early adoption of our AI-based customer support tool helped the team respond faster and improve response quality.”

These examples of positive performance review examples show how to recognize not just outcomes, but also the thinking and adaptability behind them.

Remote and hybrid work: trust, autonomy, and connection

Remote and hybrid work are now normal, not special exceptions. Performance reviews need language that reflects that reality.

• Self-management
  “In our hybrid environment, you manage your time and priorities independently while staying aligned with team goals. You consistently deliver high-quality work without needing close supervision.”

• Virtual collaboration
  “You use digital tools effectively to keep everyone informed, from clear Slack updates to well-structured documents. Your habit of sharing notes after meetings helps remote teammates stay fully in the loop.”

• Maintaining connection
  “You make an effort to include remote colleagues in discussions and social moments. Your regular check-ins help maintain a sense of team cohesion across locations and time zones.”

If you’re updating your review templates for 2024–2025, weaving in these best examples of positive performance review examples for remote work will make your feedback feel current and relevant.

Growth, learning, and future potential

The best reviews don’t just celebrate the past year; they point toward what’s next. Positive performance review examples in this area should highlight curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning.

• Learning new skills
  “You actively seek out learning opportunities, from internal trainings to external webinars. Your effort to build your data analysis skills has already improved the quality of your reports and recommendations.”

• Responding to feedback
  “When you receive feedback, you respond with openness rather than defensiveness. Over the last six months, you’ve made noticeable improvements in your presentation skills based on the feedback you requested.”

• Career development
  “You’ve taken ownership of your career path by clearly articulating your goals and asking for stretch assignments. Your work on the recent cross-functional initiative demonstrated readiness for broader responsibilities.”

These are real examples you can customize to show that you see someone’s potential, not just their current role.

How to write your own positive performance review comments

Now that you’ve seen multiple examples of positive performance review examples, let’s break down how to create your own without copying them word-for-word.

Think in three parts:

• Behavior – What did the person actually do? (observable actions)
• Impact – What changed because of that behavior? (results, relationships, time saved)
• Future – What do you want to see continue or grow? (encouragement, direction)

Here’s how that looks when you put it together:

“You handled customer escalations calmly and professionally (behavior), which helped protect our long-term relationships and led to three renewed contracts (impact). I encourage you to keep building on this strength by mentoring others on your approach to difficult conversations (future).”

This simple structure keeps your feedback grounded and specific, which research from organizations like the Society for Human Resource Management shows is more motivating and fair than vague praise.

Adapting these examples for different roles and levels

The same examples of positive performance review examples can be adjusted for different job levels by tweaking the scope of impact.

• For an individual contributor: focus on their own tasks, projects, and immediate team.
  “You consistently deliver accurate reports ahead of schedule, which helps the team prepare for client meetings with confidence.”

• For a team lead or supervisor: highlight how they enable others.
  “You’ve created a clear structure for weekly check-ins that helps your team stay focused and supported, contributing to higher engagement and fewer missed deadlines.”

• For a senior leader: emphasize cross-functional and strategic impact.
  “Your ability to align multiple departments around a shared vision has improved collaboration and positioned the company for long-term growth.”

By adjusting the scale of the impact, you can reuse the same core ideas from these best examples of positive performance review examples across many roles.

FAQ: Real examples of positive performance review examples

What are some real examples of positive performance review comments I can use right away?

Here are a few short, ready-to-use lines you can adapt:

• “You consistently follow through on your commitments, which builds trust with both colleagues and clients.”
• “Your attention to detail has reduced errors and helped the team deliver higher-quality work.”
• “You approach challenges with a solutions mindset, which keeps projects moving forward even when obstacles appear.”
• “Your calm, respectful communication style makes it easier for others to raise concerns early.”

Each example of positive performance review examples above can be personalized by adding a specific project or time frame.

How often should I use these examples in a performance review?

Use these examples of positive performance review examples as starting points, not scripts. In a full written review, you might include three to six detailed comments that each describe a specific strength or achievement. The rest of the review can cover goals, development areas, and next steps.

Can positive performance reviews still mention areas to improve?

Yes, and they should. A positive review doesn’t mean ignoring growth opportunities. You can pair encouraging language with gentle direction, such as:

“You’ve made strong progress in managing your workload and meeting deadlines. As a next step, I’d like to see you delegate more so you can focus on higher-impact work.”

This keeps the tone supportive while still being honest and helpful.

How do I keep my positive comments from sounding fake or over-the-top?

Stay specific, and avoid exaggerated language. People can tell when feedback is inflated. Ground your comments in observable behavior and, when possible, data. For example, instead of “You’re amazing at everything,” try:

“You handled three major client issues this quarter with professionalism and empathy, which helped preserve important relationships for the company.”

Specificity is what makes these examples of positive performance review examples feel real and trustworthy.

If you use the patterns and phrases in this guide as a base—and then layer in concrete details from your own workplace—you’ll move beyond vague compliments and start giving feedback that people can actually use to grow. That’s the real goal of any positive performance review.