Download it. A4 PDF, 3 pages, printable. No email needed.
A practical, three-page run sheet for a performance review cycle: what People teams set up before the cycle opens, how managers prepare and run the review conversation, what calibration checks, and how to follow up with clear goals. Free to download, no form needed.
What’s inside
- 1. Before the cycle opens (People team): dates and scope, the talent bar, shared scorecards, a written rating scale, who calibrates, and the manager briefing.
- 2. Before the conversation (manager): gathering evidence from the whole period, a one-line evidence note for every rating, and planning two or three key messages.
- 3. During the review conversation: a simple running order (open, ask first, walk through the evidence, listen, agree next steps, close) plus example phrases.
- 4. Calibration: generous graders, thin evidence, outliers and sudden jumps, and a log for every change.
- 5. After the review: sharing results, setting the next goals and closing the loop, plus a table of red flags to act on straight away.
The steps follow the quarterly review and calibration process in the performance management framework. Timings are the playbook’s own guidance, not an industry benchmark, and the example phrases are illustrative.
Go further
- Running the whole cycle? The one-page review-cycle checklist and the HR manager’s checklist cover the HR side in more depth.
- Writing the review itself: the performance review template with worked examples.
- Running calibration: the calibration meeting guide and rating scales explained.
- Try the free tools: review cost calculator, two-minute health check and HRIS switch checker.
Disclosure: Ash works at Revolut People, which sells performance management software, so treat product mentions as coming from an interested party. The checklist works with or without software.