Professional Communication
Attending a performance
review
Lesson aims
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to …
Communication focus
• understand key features of a typical performance review.
• describe strengths and weaknesses.
• write a personal performance review.
Language focus
• review modals of deduction (present).
• use vocabulary related to performance review stages.
• learn noun-adjective phrases for describing strengths and
weaknesses.
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Speaking
Talking about performance reviews
Performance reviews are a form of appraisal. They are used by
employers to discuss and evaluate employees’ job performance against
agreed objectives. Discuss the questions below.
1. Have you ever had a performance review?
2. What was it like?
3. How would you feel if you were going to have a performance review
now?
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Vocabulary
Performance review vocabulary
Match a-e to 1-5 to make phrases.
1. performance-related
bonuses a. development (CPD)
2. meet objectives b. objectives
Indicators
3. Key Performance c. bonuses
4. continuing development d. for improvement
professional (CPD) e. Indicators
for improvement
5. areas
Performance review vocabulary
Match a-e to 1-5 to make phrases.
1. performance-related
bonuses a. development (CPD)
2. meet objectives b. objectives
Indicators
3. Key Performance c. bonuses
4. continuing development d. for improvement
professional (CPD)
for improvement e. Indicators
5. areas
Now match the definitions in i-v to each phrase.
i. extra payments received for good work performance-related bonuses
ii. areas where the employee can develop areas for improvement
further Key Performance Indicators
iii. the most important objectives meet objectives
iv. achieve targets continuous professional development
v. ongoing training and learning (CPD)
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Listening
Key features of a performance review
Listen to Mary Green, a business expert, talking about
performance reviews. What does Mary Green believe
the main purposes of a performance review to be?
• an opportunity for employers to assess employees’ performance;
• discussion of agreed targets and whether these have been met;
• an opportunity for employees to state their case for promotion
and bonuses;
• an opportunity for discussion of any training needs and staff
concerns;
• set objectives for future performance
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Vocabulary
Strengths and weaknesses
vocabulary
As part of appraisals or performance reviews, we have to be able to give
examples of our strengths and weaknesses. Match the first and second
parts of the definitions.
f 1. Multi-taskers a. can motivate
can motivatethemselves
themselves easily.
easily.
c 2. Adaptable people b. are
are goodatatworking
good workingwith
with other
other people.
people.
b 3. Team players c. deal easily
deal easilywith
withchange.
change.
d 4. People with a good eye for d. never miss
never missanything.
anything.
e detail e. have many
have manydifferent
differentskills
skills and
and abilities.
abilities.
a 5. Versatile people f. are
aregood
goodat
atdealing
dealing with several things
with several thingsat
atthe
the
6. Self-starters same
same time.
time.
Strengths and weaknesses
vocabulary
Discuss which strengths are important for the following roles.
multi-tasker adaptable team players detail-oriented
versatile self-starter
1. A manager
2. A Chief Executive Officer
(CEO)
3. A personal assistant
Use the language below to help you.
• I think a manager should / needs to be ... adaptable.
• Maybe, but perhaps more importantly, they have to be ... good team
players.
• I believe a CEO is someone who must / ought to have … integrity.
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Listening
A performance review
Listen to Julie talking to her manager about her
performance review. What does Julie have to do
beforehand?
Complete a Performance Review Form.
Listen again. What does Julie have to fill in on the Performance
Review form? Put the tasks in order.
4. rate
a. raterecent
recentperformance
performanceand
and add
add comments
comments
b. identify
6. anyany
identify training needsneeds
training
2. state
c. state strengths andareas
strengths and areasfor
forimprovement
improvement
5. setset
d. new performance
new objectives
performance objectives
3. suggest
e. suggest positive changesfor
positive changes forthe
the company
company
f.
1. list
listmain
mainduties
dutiesand
andresponsibilities
responsibilities
Professional Communication – Attending a Performance Review
Task – speaking
Writing a personal performance review
Prepare a performance review for yourself. Think about your
current job. Include the following information:
• your objectives
• your strengths
• your areas for improvement
• your continuing professional development (CPD)
Lesson summary
In this lesson, you have...
• understood key features of a typical performance review.
• described strengths and weaknesses.
• written a personal performance review.
• reviewed modals of deduction (present).
• used vocabulary related to performance review stages.
• learned noun-adjective phrases for describing strengths and
weaknesses.
Well done on completing the lesson.
Do you have any questions that you would like to ask now?
