It’s performance review time. These Claude prompts for performance reviews will help you get through it faster. You’ve got the notes, the observations, the mental tally of wins and misses. Now you just have to write it all down — clearly, professionally, and without spending three hours per person.
Claude handles this well. It’s built for complexity — messy notes, nuanced situations, feedback that doesn’t fit into neat boxes. These five prompts are designed for that.
Copy, paste, and get your reviews done.
Looking for ChatGPT prompts? Here are 5 ChatGPT Prompts for Performance Reviews.
Want the full workflow? Check out How to Use Claude AI for Performance Reviews.
Table of Contents
Prompt 1: Turning Scattered Notes Into a Review
You’ve got a year’s worth of 1-on-1 notes, project updates, and random observations. Now you need to turn that mess into something structured.
The prompt:
I need to write a performance review for a [role] on my team. Here are my notes and observations from the past year:
[Paste your notes, bullet points, observations — as messy as they are]
Write a performance review that organizes these observations into clear sections: key accomplishments, strengths, areas for development, and goals for next year. Keep the tone professional but human. Be specific, not generic.Why it works:
Claude thrives on messy input. It won’t lose track of details buried halfway through your notes. The prompt gives it structure to aim for while letting it sort through the chaos.
Prompt 2: Balancing Strengths and Development Areas
The hardest part of any review is balancing the positive with the constructive. You don’t want a feedback sandwich, but you also don’t want it to read like a list of complaints — or empty praise.
The prompt:
I'm writing a performance review for a [role]. Here's what I want to cover:
Strengths:
[Strength 1]
[Strength 2]
Areas for development:
[Area 1]
[Area 2]
Write a review that addresses both strengths and development areas. Don't use the "sandwich" approach — be direct but constructive. The feedback on development areas should feel like investment in their growth, not criticism.Why it works:
“Investment in their growth, not criticism” guides Claude’s tone. You get honest feedback that still reads like it’s coming from someone who wants the person to succeed.
Prompt 3: Handling Complex Situations
Not every review is straightforward. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances — a team reorg, a project that got cancelled, personal challenges, mixed results that don’t tell the whole story.
The prompt:
I need to write a performance review for a [role] with a complicated situation this year. Here's the context:
[What made this year complex — reorg, shifting priorities, external factors]
[What they accomplished despite the challenges]
[Where they fell short and why]
[What was in their control vs. what wasn't]
Write a review that acknowledges the complexity fairly. Give credit where it's due, address the gaps honestly, and avoid making excuses or being overly harsh. The employee should feel like their full situation was understood.Why it works:
Claude holds all the context at once — the wins, the misses, the reasons behind both. This prompt forces nuance instead of a simple “meets expectations” or “needs improvement.”
Prompt 4: Making Vague Feedback Actionable
You know what needs to improve, but “communicate better” or “be more proactive” isn’t useful feedback. The employee needs to know what to actually do differently.
The prompt:
I need to turn vague feedback into something specific and actionable. Here's what I want to address:
[Vague observation, e.g., "needs to improve communication"]
[A specific example or situation where this showed up]
[What I wish they had done instead]
Write 1-2 paragraphs that describe this development area with specific examples and clear next steps. The employee should finish reading and know exactly what "better" looks like.Why it works:
“Know exactly what better looks like” is the key. Claude takes your fuzzy observation and turns it into feedback they can act on — not just a label they’ll resent.
Prompt 5: Writing a Review for Someone You Inherited
You took over the team mid-year. You’ve got three months of direct observation, maybe some notes from the previous manager, and a review that’s due just like everyone else’s.
The prompt:
I need to write a performance review for a [role] I inherited partway through the year. Here's what I know:
[When I took over managing them]
[What I've observed directly since then]
[Any context from the previous manager, if available]
[What I don't have visibility into]
Write a review that's honest about my limited time managing them while still providing useful feedback. Acknowledge what I can speak to directly and avoid overreaching on things I didn't witness.Why it works:
“Avoid overreaching on things I didn’t witness” keeps you credible. Claude helps you write a fair review without pretending you have context you don’t — and your employee won’t feel like you’re faking it.
Make It Sound Like You
Claude gives you a strong draft. But before you submit anything, read it out loud.
Does it sound like something you’d actually say? If Claude wrote “demonstrates exceptional proficiency in stakeholder management,” change it to “handles difficult clients well.”
A few quick edits:
Cut the corporate fluff. If you wouldn’t say it in a 1-on-1, don’t put it in the review.
Add a detail only you’d know. The specific project, the moment they stepped up, the context that made it matter.
Trust your gut. If something feels off when you read it, fix it. You know your employee better than Claude does.
And remember: never put real names or company names in your prompts. Use roles and general descriptions only.
Beyond Claude
ChatGPT works great for straightforward reviews — it’s faster and gets the job done when you don’t need Claude’s complexity handling.
Grammarly catches what you miss after you’ve been staring at the same review for an hour. Run your final draft through before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Claude and ChatGPT for performance reviews?
Claude handles complexity better — long context, messy notes, nuanced situations. ChatGPT is faster and works well for straightforward reviews. If your review is complicated, start with Claude. If it’s simple, ChatGPT will get you there quicker.
Which Claude model should I use?
Sonnet works for most reviews. If you’re pasting in months of detailed notes or a very long context, Opus handles that better — but it’s slower and costs more if you’re on the paid plan.
Is it okay to use AI for performance reviews?
Yes — as a writing tool. Claude helps you organize your thoughts and find the right words. It doesn’t replace knowing your employee’s work, making fair assessments, or having the actual conversation. You’re still doing the hard part.
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Best AI Tools for Managers – The complete toolkit beyond just Claude.