Best examples of self-assessment examples for performance review

Real-world examples of self-assessment examples for performance review

Let’s start where you actually need help: the words on the page. Below are real examples of self-assessment examples for performance review that you can tweak and use. I’ll flag the skill area, and then give you sample language you can adapt.

Examples of self-assessment for performance review: communication

If your job involves emails, meetings, or talking to humans (so… everyone), you’ll probably need to rate your communication. Here are a few ways to do it without sounding arrogant or apologetic.

Strong performance example:
“In 2024, I focused on making my communication clearer and more concise. I reduced average response time to internal emails from one business day to four hours, which helped unblock cross-team projects. I also started sending weekly status updates to stakeholders, which reduced ad-hoc check-in requests by about 30%. Colleagues have mentioned that my updates make it easier for them to prioritize their own work.”

Balanced, honest example:
“I communicate project updates reliably and keep my manager informed of risks and blockers. This year I presented in three department meetings and received positive feedback on clarity. At the same time, I sometimes over-explain in long emails. In the next review cycle, I plan to use clearer subject lines and bullet-point summaries at the top of longer messages so that busy stakeholders can quickly see what I need from them.”

Growth-focused example (if communication is a development area):
“While I share updates consistently, I’ve noticed that my messages are not always tailored to the audience. For example, I sometimes provide too much technical detail to non-technical partners. I’ve started asking clarifying questions about what information people need and I’m practicing shorter, more focused updates. Over the next six months, I plan to attend at least one company communication workshop and ask for feedback after key presentations.”

These are the kind of specific, grounded phrases managers love. They show impact (faster responses, fewer interruptions), not just buzzwords.

Examples of self-assessment examples for performance review: teamwork & collaboration

Most performance forms have a section on teamwork. Here are some of the best examples you can borrow language from.

High performer example:
“This year I intentionally invested time in building stronger relationships across the marketing and product teams. I set up recurring syncs with our product lead, which helped us align campaign timing with feature launches and contributed to a 15% increase in launch-day engagement. I also stepped in to mentor a new team member, meeting weekly for the first two months to help them ramp up. As a result, they were able to own a full campaign a month earlier than planned.”

Solid contributor example:
“I consistently support my teammates by sharing context, answering questions, and stepping in when workloads spike. For example, during Q3, I helped cover two colleagues’ tasks while they were out on leave, ensuring we met all client deadlines. I’m open to feedback and regularly ask teammates how I can support them better. Going forward, I’d like to take more initiative in organizing cross-team working sessions to proactively prevent misalignment.”

Honest improvement example:
“I collaborate well in small groups but tend to be quieter in larger cross-functional meetings. This sometimes means my ideas don’t surface. To address this, I’ve started preparing talking points before big meetings and volunteering to present small sections of the agenda. I would like to continue building confidence in speaking up, especially when I see risks that others may have missed.”

Notice how each example of self-assessment for performance review connects behavior (mentoring, covering work, speaking up) to outcomes (faster ramp-up, met deadlines, better alignment).

Leadership and ownership: examples include both formal and informal leaders

You don’t need a manager title to show leadership. Many of the best examples of self-assessment examples for performance review in this area come from people who simply took ownership.

Formal people manager example:
“As a manager of a five-person team, I prioritized clarity and psychological safety. I introduced weekly one-on-ones with a shared agenda, which helped surface blockers earlier and contributed to a 20% reduction in missed deadlines. I also created a simple growth planning template so each team member could identify one or two focus skills for 2025. Two of my direct reports earned promotions this year, and both cited our development conversations as a key factor.”

Individual contributor showing leadership:
“Although I’m not a people manager, I consistently take ownership of projects and help guide others. This year I led the rollout of a new ticketing workflow. I coordinated with engineering, support, and operations, documented the new process, and hosted two training sessions. After launch, average ticket resolution time dropped by 18%. I’m proud that I was able to lead this effort from idea to implementation while keeping stakeholders aligned.”

Leadership growth example:
“I’m becoming more comfortable leading projects but still hesitate to delegate tasks. I often take on too much myself to avoid burdening others, which can slow things down. In the next cycle, I want to practice clearer delegation by defining roles and expectations at the start of each project and checking in regularly instead of doing the work myself by default.”

If you’re curious how leadership behaviors connect to engagement and performance, resources like Gallup’s research on managers and engagement can give you language to describe your impact more thoughtfully.

Results and impact: examples of self-assessment that show value

Many people undersell themselves by listing tasks instead of results. Strong examples of self-assessment examples for performance review translate activity into impact.

Sales / revenue example:
“This year I exceeded my annual quota by 12%, generating $1.3M in closed revenue. I focused on building deeper relationships with existing accounts, which led to a 25% increase in upsell opportunities. I also partnered with the product team to share client feedback, which influenced two roadmap items that clients had repeatedly requested. In the next cycle, I plan to refine my prospecting strategy to build a stronger early-stage pipeline.”

Operations / efficiency example:
“I improved several internal processes that saved time and reduced errors. I redesigned our onboarding checklist, which cut the average onboarding time from 10 days to 7 days and reduced missing-document incidents by 40%. I also created a shared dashboard so stakeholders can track progress in real time instead of requesting manual updates. These changes allowed the team to handle a 15% increase in volume without adding headcount.”

Customer support example:
“I maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 4.8/5 across 1,200+ tickets this year. By creating and updating 15 help-center articles, I helped reduce repeat questions on common issues, contributing to a 10% drop in ticket volume for those topics. I plan to keep tracking themes in customer feedback and partner more closely with product to address root causes.”

When you’re writing your own examples of self-assessment for performance review, look for numbers, before-and-after comparisons, or concrete outcomes like time saved, revenue generated, errors reduced, or satisfaction improved.

Learning, growth, and adaptability: best examples for fast-changing workplaces

Between hybrid work, new tools, and shifting priorities, adaptability has become a core performance topic. Research from organizations like the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) highlights how much employers value continuous learning.

Here are examples of self-assessment examples for performance review that highlight growth:

Strong growth example:
“In 2024, I made continuous learning a priority. I completed two data analysis courses through Coursera and applied those skills to improve our monthly reporting. As a result, I automated three recurring reports, saving approximately four hours per week for our team. I also volunteered to pilot a new project management tool and created a short guide to help colleagues adopt it more quickly.”

Career development example:
“I clarified my long-term interest in moving into product management and took steps toward that goal. I met with two product managers to understand their day-to-day work, completed an introductory product course, and asked to shadow a roadmap planning meeting. I used what I learned to suggest improvements to how we capture user feedback. In the next cycle, I’d like to take on a small product-focused project with a clear owner and measurable outcome.”

Resilience and adaptability example:
“This year involved several priority shifts and a reorganization. I stayed flexible by re-scoping projects quickly and communicating changes to stakeholders. When our team lost a key member, I temporarily absorbed critical tasks to maintain service levels while we hired a replacement. I also set clearer boundaries to avoid burnout, including blocking focus time on my calendar and taking regular breaks, which helped me maintain consistent performance throughout the year.”

How to write your own examples of self-assessment for performance review

Now that you’ve seen multiple real examples, here’s a simple way to create your own language without copying word-for-word.

Think in terms of three parts:

1. Situation and responsibilities
Briefly describe what you were responsible for. For instance: “I own monthly financial reporting for the North America region.”

2. Actions you took
Describe what you actually did, not just what your job description says. For example: “I streamlined the reporting template, documented the process, and trained two backup owners.”

3. Results and learning
Connect your actions to outcomes and what you learned: “This reduced reporting time by 25% and ensured coverage during vacations. I learned the value of documenting complex processes so others can step in quickly.”

When you combine those three pieces, you naturally create strong examples of self-assessment examples for performance review that sound confident but grounded.

2024–2025 trends to reflect in your self-assessment

Performance reviews are changing. Many companies are moving toward more frequent check-ins, skills-based evaluations, and a stronger focus on well-being.

Here are a few trends you can subtly reflect in your self-assessment examples:

Focus on skills, not just roles.
Instead of only saying “I’m a project manager,” highlight transferable skills like stakeholder management, data literacy, or communication. The U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop has helpful language around core skills you can borrow.

Highlight hybrid and remote collaboration.
If you’ve learned to lead virtual meetings, manage time zones, or keep projects moving asynchronously, say so. For example: “I shifted our weekly team sync to an async format with a shared agenda and loom updates, which reduced meeting time by one hour per person per week while keeping everyone informed.”

Include well-being and sustainable performance.
Employers are paying more attention to burnout and long-term health. Without oversharing, you can mention strategies you’ve used to stay effective, such as setting boundaries, using your paid time off, or building routines that support focus. Resources from organizations like the National Institutes of Health can help you think about healthy coping strategies you might want to highlight.

Putting it all together: a full example of a self-assessment

To see how this all fits in a real form, here’s a condensed example of self-assessment for performance review for a mid-level marketing specialist.

Overall performance
“This year I successfully led and executed three multi-channel campaigns that met or exceeded their targets. For our spring launch, I coordinated with product, sales, and design to deliver assets on time, resulting in a 22% increase in qualified leads compared to the previous quarter. I also improved our reporting by building a dashboard that gives leadership real-time visibility into campaign performance.

In addition to hitting my core goals, I supported team operations by documenting playbooks for two recurring campaigns and training a new hire. Feedback from my manager and peers highlights my reliability and attention to detail. Looking ahead, I want to strengthen my strategic skills by getting involved earlier in campaign planning and contributing more to messaging and positioning decisions.”

This kind of full-sentence, story-like answer often works better than short bullet points. It shows how all your examples of self-assessment examples for performance review connect into a bigger picture of your growth and impact.

FAQ: examples of self-assessment examples for performance review

How long should my self-assessment be?
Enough to show your impact, but not so long your manager dreads reading it. For most roles, one or two solid paragraphs per section (strengths, development areas, goals) is plenty. Focus on two to four of your strongest examples rather than listing everything you did.

What is a good example of a self-assessment comment about weaknesses?
Aim for honest but constructive. For example: “I sometimes take on too many tasks myself instead of delegating or asking for help, which can slow down projects. I’m working on setting clearer priorities and communicating earlier when my workload is at capacity.” This kind of example shows self-awareness and a plan, not just a flaw.

Can I reuse the same examples in my self-assessment and in conversations with my manager?
Yes, and you should. Repeating your key examples of self-assessment for performance review in writing and in your 1:1 discussion helps your manager remember them when they’re making final decisions on ratings or promotions.

How many examples of achievements should I include?
Quality beats quantity. Aim for three to six strong, detailed achievements that show different types of impact (for example: revenue, efficiency, customer satisfaction, team support). If your form has multiple sections, spread your examples across them rather than repeating the same story everywhere.

What if I had a tough year and don’t have big wins?
You can still write a thoughtful self-assessment. Focus on what you kept stable, what you learned, and how you adapted. For instance: “Although our team missed our original revenue target due to market conditions, I maintained strong relationships with key clients, which positions us well for future growth. I also learned to manage a higher volume of smaller deals efficiently.” Managers know not every year is a record-breaker; they’re looking for honesty, resilience, and growth.

If you use the examples in this guide as a starting point and customize them with your own metrics, projects, and lessons learned, you’ll end up with a self-assessment that actually sounds like you—and gives your manager the information they need to recognize your work.