Best Examples of Performance Review Email Examples: Areas for Improvement

Let’s start where your brain actually needs help: wording. Below are real‑sounding, ready-to-edit examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement you can use in different situations.

Each example is written from a manager’s perspective, but you can easily flip the voice if you’re an employee writing a self‑review email about your own areas for improvement.

Example of email about missed deadlines and time management

When deadlines slip, you want to be specific without sounding like you’re scolding a child. Here’s an example of a performance review email that focuses on improvement and support.

Subject: Performance Review – Focus on Time Management

Email body:

Hi Alex,

As part of your mid‑year performance review, I want to highlight one key area for improvement: time management and meeting deadlines.

Over the past quarter, several deliverables have been submitted late, including the Q2 sales report (three days late) and the client proposal for Brightline (two days late). I know you’ve been managing a heavy workload, and I appreciate the effort you put into your work.

Going forward, I’d like us to focus on:

• Breaking large tasks into smaller milestones with interim due dates
• Flagging any blockers as early as possible
• Using our project management tool to track priorities weekly

Our goal is for you to consistently meet agreed‑upon deadlines while maintaining the quality of your work. Let’s discuss tools or support you might need, such as calendar reminders or help with prioritization, during our 1:1 next week.

I’m confident that with some structure and support, you can strengthen this area.

Best,
Jordan

This is one of the best examples of a performance review email because it uses real dates and items, avoids vague statements like “you’re always late,” and ends with a plan.

Example of email about communication and collaboration issues

Remote and hybrid work have made communication skills even more visible. In 2024–2025, many organizations are emphasizing clarity, transparency, and cross‑team collaboration.

Subject: Performance Review – Communication & Collaboration

Email body:

Hi Priya,

As we review your performance for this cycle, I want to recognize the quality of your technical work and also call out communication as an area for improvement.

In several recent projects, including the Phoenix rollout, key stakeholders shared that they weren’t always sure about project status or next steps. For example, updates were sometimes shared only in direct messages instead of in the team channel, which made it harder for others to stay aligned.

To strengthen your impact, I’d like you to focus on:

• Sharing regular, written updates in the main project channels
• Clarifying ownership and deadlines when assigning or accepting tasks
• Asking clarifying questions when requirements are not fully clear

Improving in this area will help you build stronger relationships across teams and ensure your work is visible. I’m happy to recommend resources on effective workplace communication or pair you with a peer who models this well.

Let’s review progress on this in our next quarterly check‑in.

Thanks,
Morgan

Among the best examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement, this one stands out because it links behavior (where updates are posted) to impact (others can’t stay aligned) and then to specific next steps.

Example of email about quality and attention to detail

Sometimes the work is fast, but not accurate. You want to avoid sounding nitpicky while still being clear that quality matters.

Subject: Performance Review – Accuracy & Attention to Detail

Email body:

Hi Daniela,

As part of your annual review, I want to highlight accuracy and attention to detail as a key area for improvement.

Over the last six months, we’ve seen repeated issues with data accuracy in your reports. For example, the April and May financial summaries contained formula errors that required rework from the finance team. While these were corrected, they delayed decision‑making and increased workload for others.

To support your growth, I’d like you to:

• Build in dedicated time for self‑review before submitting reports
• Use checklists for recurring tasks, such as monthly reconciliations
• Ask a peer to spot‑check complex spreadsheets until error rates decrease

Accuracy is especially important in our department because leaders rely on this data for budgeting and planning. I’m confident that with more structured review habits, you can significantly reduce these errors.

We’ll revisit this topic in three months and look at error trends together.

Best,
Taylor

This example of a performance review email highlights an area for improvement without attacking the employee’s intelligence or work ethic.

Example of email about behavior and professionalism

Behavioral feedback is often the hardest to write. The key is to describe observable behavior, not personality.

Subject: Performance Review – Professional Conduct & Team Dynamics

Email body:

Hi Chris,

As we complete your performance review, I want to acknowledge your strong technical skills and also address professional conduct as an area for improvement.

During several team meetings this quarter, including the May 8 and June 3 stand‑ups, there were moments when your comments came across as dismissive of colleagues’ ideas. For example, phrases like “that’s a terrible idea” or “this is obvious” can discourage others from speaking up.

Our team culture depends on respectful dialogue, even when we disagree. Going forward, I’d like you to:

• Focus feedback on ideas, not people
• Use language that invites discussion (for example, “I see a risk with this approach because…”)
• Pause before responding in meetings to ensure your tone is constructive

I’m sharing this because you have a lot to contribute, and I want others to feel comfortable collaborating with you. Let’s talk about strategies that feel authentic to you while still supporting a respectful environment.

Thanks,
Jamie

Among real examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement, this one shows how to handle sensitive behavior feedback with clarity and respect.

Example of email about leadership and delegation

For employees stepping into leadership roles, feedback often centers on delegation, coaching, and decision‑making.

Subject: Performance Review – Developing Leadership Skills

Email body:

Hi Morgan,

As we look at your performance in your new lead role, I want to highlight leadership and delegation as areas for improvement.

You consistently take ownership and step in to fix issues, which is a strength. However, in recent sprints you’ve taken on work that could have been delegated to team members. For example, you personally handled three bug‑fix tickets that were originally assigned to junior developers.

To grow as a leader, I’d like you to:

• Delegate more execution work and stay focused on prioritization and unblockers
• Schedule brief 1:1s with team members to coach them instead of taking tasks back
• Clearly communicate expectations and success criteria when assigning work

Developing these skills will help you scale your impact and prepare for future roles. I’m happy to connect you with leadership training resources and a mentor who has grown through similar challenges.

Let’s set specific leadership goals for the next six months.

Best,
Alex

This is an example of a performance review email that balances praise for initiative with a clear ask: step back from doing everything yourself.

Example of email about remote work habits and responsiveness

Post‑2020, many organizations updated their expectations for remote work. In 2024–2025, responsiveness and availability are common areas for improvement.

Subject: Performance Review – Remote Work Practices & Responsiveness

Email body:

Hi Taylor,

As part of your performance review, I’d like to discuss remote work practices as an area for improvement.

Over the last quarter, there have been multiple instances where messages and emails went unanswered for several hours during core working time, and meetings were missed without advance notice. This has made it harder for teammates to move projects forward and has created uncertainty about your availability.

To better align with our team’s expectations, please focus on:

• Confirming availability in your calendar and keeping it updated
• Acknowledging messages within our agreed‑upon response window
• Proactively communicating if you need to step away or adjust your schedule

These changes will help rebuild trust and make collaboration smoother for everyone. If there are personal or logistical challenges affecting your availability, I want to understand them so we can explore solutions together.

Let’s talk during our next 1:1.

Thanks,
Renee

This sits among the best examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement because it connects remote behavior to team impact and invites a two‑way conversation.

How to write your own performance review email about areas for improvement

Now that you’ve seen several real examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement, let’s break down the pattern behind them so you can write your own.

Think of each email as having five parts:

A clear subject line. Make it obvious what the email is about: “Performance Review – [Topic].” This lowers anxiety and sets expectations.

A balanced opening. Start by anchoring to the review period and, when honest, briefly acknowledge strengths. This keeps the message from feeling like a surprise attack.

Specific behaviors, not vague labels. Instead of “you’re unprofessional,” describe what happened: missed meetings, late responses, dismissive comments. Management research from organizations like Harvard Business School consistently shows that behavior‑based feedback is easier to accept and act on.

Impact on the team or business. Connect the dots: late reports delay decisions; poor communication leads to confusion; lack of delegation slows team growth. This helps the employee understand why the area for improvement matters.

Concrete next steps. Every example of a performance review email you send should end with a path forward: habits to try, tools to use, training to consider, or a timeline to revisit progress.

When you combine these five elements, you get performance review emails that are honest, specific, and focused on growth instead of blame.

More examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement by topic

To give you even more variety, here are shorter, ready‑to‑adapt snippets you can plug into your own messages.

Short snippet: initiative and ownership

One area for improvement this cycle is taking more initiative without waiting for direction. For example, several tasks remained in the “blocked” column for days without follow‑up or suggested next steps. In the next quarter, I’d like you to proactively propose solutions, ask clarifying questions, and volunteer for stretch assignments that align with your goals.

Short snippet: customer service tone

An area for improvement is maintaining a calm, empathetic tone with customers, especially in difficult interactions. In recent tickets, some responses came across as abrupt, which can escalate tension. Let’s focus on using phrases that acknowledge customer frustration while still setting boundaries, and consider a refresher on de‑escalation techniques.

Short snippet: documentation and knowledge sharing

Improving documentation is another area for improvement. Several processes you own are not yet documented in our shared knowledge base, which makes it harder for others to cover when you’re out. Over the next two months, I’d like you to create or update step‑by‑step guides for your recurring tasks.

These smaller pieces, combined with the full emails above, give you a wide range of examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement that you can mix and match.

Best practices for giving “areas for improvement” feedback in 2024–2025

Workplace expectations have shifted in the last few years. Here are a few trends to keep in mind as you adapt these examples.

Frequent, lighter feedback beats one heavy email. Research from sources like MIT Sloan Management Review points out that employees prefer ongoing coaching over once‑a‑year surprises. Use email to document, but don’t wait 12 months to say something.

Psychological safety matters. People are more likely to act on feedback when they don’t feel attacked. Using behavior‑based language and inviting discussion, as you saw in the real examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement above, supports that safety.

Hybrid work requires extra clarity. With fewer hallway chats, written feedback carries more weight. Spell out expectations for response times, meeting etiquette, and documentation.

Support, not just criticism. In every example of a performance review email in this article, notice how the manager offers something: time, tools, training, or a follow‑up. That support turns a hard message into a growth opportunity.

If you want to go deeper on feedback techniques, many universities and leadership centers offer free guidance. For instance, the Center for Creative Leadership shares research‑backed tips on effective feedback that you can adapt to your organization’s culture.

FAQ: Performance review emails and areas for improvement

How do I choose which areas for improvement to include in a performance review email?
Focus on one to three areas that have the biggest impact on the person’s performance or the team. Use recent, specific examples, and make sure you can describe clear next steps. If you find yourself listing ten problems, prioritize and save minor points for ongoing check‑ins.

Can you give more examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement for high performers?
Yes. For high performers, areas for improvement might focus on strategic thinking, mentoring others, or scaling their impact. For example: “You deliver excellent individual work. An area for improvement is stepping back to shape team‑level strategy and coaching junior colleagues so your expertise reaches more people.”

What’s an example of wording that feels too harsh in a performance review email?
Statements like “you always” or “you never” are usually too absolute and can trigger defensiveness. Instead of “you never meet deadlines,” use “In the last three projects, the final deliverables were submitted after the agreed‑upon due dates.” That shift keeps the door open for conversation.

Should performance review emails include ratings or just narrative feedback?
That depends on your company’s process. Some organizations require formal ratings, while others rely on narrative feedback only. If you do include ratings, pair them with specific examples so the numbers don’t feel arbitrary.

How can employees respond to areas for improvement in a review email?
A good response acknowledges the feedback, asks clarifying questions if needed, and proposes a plan. For example: “Thank you for the feedback on my communication. I’d like to try weekly written updates for my projects and schedule a check‑in in two months to review progress.” This turns the examples of performance review email examples: areas for improvement into a shared action plan.

When in doubt, come back to the patterns you’ve seen here: be specific, be fair, and always end with a path forward. Over time, your performance review emails will feel less like a chore and more like a tool for real growth.