Leadership performance reviews can feel like a daunting task. Whether you’re evaluating your own leadership abilities or reviewing a team leader’s performance, finding the right words to provide constructive and insightful feedback can be tricky.
But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, performance reviews are a powerful tool that can foster growth, encourage accountability, and inspire improvement.
In this post, I’m going to share 13 leadership performance review examples that cover a range of skills and traits. From communication to decision-making and strategic thinking, these examples will guide you through giving clear, actionable, and meaningful feedback.
Whether you’re a manager or an employee, you’ll be able to apply these examples to help improve leadership performance.
Have You Ever Struggled with Giving Leadership Feedback?
I’m sure we’ve all been there either struggling with writing a performance review for someone or feeling a little uncertain about how our own performance is being assessed. Leadership reviews, in particular, can be tricky.
They often involve a mix of hard and soft skills, like decision-making, communication, vision, and emotional intelligence. So, how can you ensure you’re evaluating these skills fairly and clearly?
This post will give you concrete examples to use and guide you through the process of providing constructive feedback. By the end of it, you’ll feel confident in writing performance reviews that empower leaders to grow while also highlighting their strengths.
Key Leadership Qualities to Evaluate
Before diving into the examples themselves, it’s important to understand what traits or behaviors make a leader effective. Leadership can look different depending on the company, team, and culture, but there are several key qualities that are universally valued. These include:
- Communication Skills
- Decision-Making Ability
- Strategic Thinking
- Team Building and Collaboration
- Emotional Intelligence
When reviewing leadership performance, you want to focus on these qualities and evaluate how well the leader demonstrates them in their day-to-day role. Now, let’s explore these qualities with some performance review examples.
Leadership Performance Review Examples
Here are 13 detailed leadership performance review examples you can use when providing feedback:
1. Communication Skills
- Example: “Your communication skills have made a significant impact on the team. You clearly articulate the goals and expectations, and you make sure everyone has the information they need to succeed. However, there is room to improve in listening to team concerns more actively. Consider holding more one-on-one meetings to provide a space for team members to voice their thoughts.”
Tip: Communication is not just about speaking clearly—it also involves listening and ensuring your team feels heard.
2. Decision-Making
- Example: “Your ability to make quick decisions during critical moments has proven valuable to the team. For example, when we faced a sudden project delay, you made the call to reallocate resources, which helped us meet the deadline. Going forward, try to involve the team more in the decision-making process to encourage ownership and transparency.”
Tip: A great leader is someone who can make decisions, but also empowers their team to contribute their ideas.
3. Strategic Thinking
- Example: “Your long-term strategic planning has really helped the company chart a path forward. I’ve noticed your thoughtful approach when considering the direction of new initiatives. However, I recommend focusing more on short-term goals to balance the bigger picture with day-to-day needs.”
Tip: Strategic leaders need to balance vision with actionable steps that can be achieved in the short-term.
4. Team Collaboration
- Example: “You’ve done a great job building collaborative relationships within the team. I’ve seen you facilitate productive discussions and encourage others to share their ideas. However, there have been a few instances where some voices were overlooked. Encourage quieter team members to contribute more regularly.”
Tip: Great leaders encourage all team members to collaborate, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.
5. Motivation and Inspiration
- Example: “You consistently motivate the team to push through challenging times. Your positive attitude and encouragement have helped keep morale high during stressful periods. Keep leading by example to keep the energy up.”
Tip: Motivation isn’t just about words—it’s about creating an environment where people feel empowered to do their best work.
6. Conflict Resolution
- Example: “Your ability to mediate conflicts has been an asset to the team. Recently, you handled a dispute between two team members with tact and professionalism, ensuring both sides felt heard. Continue to focus on resolving conflicts swiftly to maintain a positive team dynamic.”
Tip: Conflict resolution is a key leadership skill, and quick, fair decisions can often prevent issues from escalating.
7. Delegation
- Example: “You delegate tasks effectively, ensuring the right people are assigned to the right projects. However, I’ve noticed a tendency to hold onto tasks that could be delegated. Trusting your team with more responsibility will help them grow and allow you to focus on higher-priority tasks.”
Tip: Delegation is about trust—giving others ownership not only lightens your workload but helps the team grow.
8. Adaptability
- Example: “Your ability to adapt to new challenges, especially during the unexpected changes this year, has been remarkable. You quickly shifted your priorities to meet evolving company needs. Moving forward, focus on providing clearer guidance to the team during these transitions.”
Tip: Adaptability is essential, but it’s equally important to make sure your team feels supported during times of change.
9. Time Management
- Example: “You manage your time well and consistently meet deadlines, even when juggling multiple projects. However, there are times when urgent tasks pile up unexpectedly. Prioritize these effectively to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.”
Tip: Good time management doesn’t just involve organizing your day; it’s also about adapting to shifting priorities.
10. Innovation
- Example: “Your ability to think outside the box and introduce innovative solutions has led to several successful improvements in our processes. Keep encouraging creative brainstorming sessions, but try to involve more team members in the ideation phase to ensure diverse perspectives.”
Tip: Innovation thrives in an open, inclusive environment. Let your team members share ideas and experiment.
11. Integrity and Ethics
- Example: “You consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to company values and ethics. Your transparency in decision-making and honesty with your team members builds trust. Keep upholding these standards and consider mentoring others in the importance of integrity.”
Tip: A leader’s ethics are the foundation of team trust. Always lead with honesty and transparency.
12. Performance under Pressure
- Example: “You handle stressful situations with ease and always keep a level head. I admire how you manage to stay composed under pressure. However, there’s room to improve in keeping the team calm when pressure rises. Encouraging a more supportive team culture during these times will help maintain morale.”
Tip: Performance under pressure isn’t just about staying calm—it’s also about leading the team through stressful moments with empathy and assurance.
13. Visionary Leadership
- Example: “Your ability to articulate a clear vision for the team has provided a sense of direction. The way you break down complex strategies into actionable steps has been invaluable. Going forward, involve your team in the vision-building process to increase engagement and alignment.”
Tip: A strong vision needs to be shared. Engage the team early in the visioning process to build collective ownership.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While giving leadership feedback, there are a few mistakes you should avoid to ensure your review is effective, respectful, and constructive:
1. Being Too Vague
Avoid being vague or general. Phrases like “You need to improve communication” aren’t helpful. Instead, provide specific examples and actions.
2. Ignoring Areas of Improvement
While it’s important to highlight strengths, it’s equally crucial to address areas where the leader can improve. Don’t shy away from constructive criticism.
3. Being Overly Harsh
Feedback should be constructive, not discouraging. Frame negative feedback with positivity and a focus on growth.
Tips for Writing Effective Feedback
Step-by-Step Instructions for Writing Leadership Reviews:
- Be Specific: Always include examples that illustrate the behavior you’re addressing.
- Focus on Impact: Explain how the leader’s actions affected the team or company.
- Balance Positive and Constructive Feedback: Acknowledge what’s going well, but don’t shy away from areas that need improvement.
- Offer Suggestions for Growth: Don’t just point out weaknesses—help your leader know how to improve.
Summary Table of Leadership Performance Review Examples
| Leadership Trait | Positive Example | Area for Improvement |
| Communication | Clear and concise communication during team meetings | Needs to engage in active listening during one-on-ones |
| Decision-Making | Effective decisions made during tight deadlines | Should involve team members more in the decision-making process |
| Team Collaboration | Fosters a cooperative and open environment | Encourage quieter team members to speak up |
| Strategic Thinking | Strong vision for long-term goals | Could benefit from focusing more on short-term actionable steps |
| Delegation | Assigns tasks based on team strengths | Should delegate more to avoid micromanaging |
Conclusion
Providing leadership performance reviews isn’t just about pointing out what needs improvement. It’s an opportunity to motivate, empower, and guide leaders toward even greater success.
By using detailed examples, offering actionable feedback, and maintaining a balanced approach, you can help your leaders thrive in their roles.
If you found these examples helpful, I encourage you to share this post with your team or fellow managers! It’s always a good idea to learn from one another and improve the leadership review process together.
FAQs
- What is the best way to provide feedback during a performance review?
- It’s best to be specific, offer examples, and maintain a positive, growth-focused tone.
- Should I only point out areas for improvement in a leadership review?
- No, always highlight strengths as well. A balanced review boosts morale and encourages growth.
- How do I handle giving difficult feedback?
- Frame it constructively and offer suggestions for improvement. Be empathetic and clear.
