29 mins: How to give Better Performance Reviews

What you'll learn:

No Surprises, Please.

Rachael Fitzjohn is back! In this mini-masterclass, she brings her practical people experience spanning corporates to startups to tackle performance reviews. As an executive people leader at Emerging Engines, she’s navigated complex workplaces and knows how to build cultures that work.

The big takeaway? Performance reviews should never be a surprise. They should summarise ongoing conversations, not introduce new feedback.

Five simple shifts when delivering better reviews:

1. No surprises: Make feedback regular with monthly/quarterly check-ins (beyond your regular one-on-ones).
2. Clarity over judgment: ‘Three deadlines were missed, I’d like to work together to improve’ instead of ‘You’ve been disappointing’.
3. Two-way street: Ask ‘What do you need from me?’ and really listen.
4. Separate pay from growth: Be clear which conversation you’re having.
5. End with action: End with 2-3 clear takeaways with a follow-up plan.

Working within a fixed performance system?You might not control the process, but you can control the experience by getting really curious and focusing on outcomes over ratings. A framework is just scaffolding – you create the human experience inside.

Regular, honest conversations build trust, and when people know where they stand, they feel valued and motivated to improve.

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