How to Use AI to Write Better Performance Reviews in 2025

Managers spend enormous time on performance reviews, and most reviews are vague, generic, and unhelpful. AI can help you write better, more specific performance reviews faster. Here is how in 2025.

How to Use AI to Write Better Performance Reviews in 2025

The Performance Review Problem

Most managers write reviews under time pressure, relying on recent memory rather than evidence accumulated throughout the year. The result: vague, recency-biased reviews that do not serve employees or the organization.

The AI-Assisted Review Process

Before the review cycle: Keep a running notes document throughout the year — specific accomplishments, feedback received, projects delivered, areas where growth occurred. Brief notes, not essays. When review time comes, this becomes your source material.

The review writing prompt: “I am writing a performance review for a [role] on my team. Here are my notes on their performance over the past year: [paste notes]. Help me write a structured review that: covers their major accomplishments with specific examples, addresses 2-3 development areas with concrete, actionable language, connects their contributions to team/company goals, and balances being honest about gaps while being constructive. Tone: direct, supportive, professional.”

Review Language That Works

Claude is particularly good at replacing vague language with specific, behavioral language:

• Vague: “Sarah is a good communicator.” Claude suggests: “Sarah consistently provides stakeholders with proactive status updates that head off blockers before they escalate.”
• Vague: “Tom needs to improve his time management.” Claude suggests: “Tom would benefit from building earlier milestones into project plans to reduce end-of-timeline delivery pressure.”

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