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Thomas Griffin

Be a better leader

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation (+112 Examples)

A self-evaluation is a powerful tool that holds you accountable for your strengths, weaknesses, growth and development.

In many circumstances, a well-written self-evaluation is the best way to convey what you’re doing well and how you can improve.

But writing a great self-evaluation is easier said than done, isn’t it?

Some people struggle with being honest. They want to keep the mask of deceit on and make themselves look good for their manager, so they’re not entirely truthful about some or all of the areas where they need help.

On the other hand, some struggle with being too humble. They want to show their dedication to improvement, so they fill their self-evaluations with weaknesses to overcome rather than achievements to celebrate.

Or perhaps you know your strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes time to write everything down, your mind goes blank.

(If that’s you, I’m glad I’m not the only one!)

Thankfully, you’re in the right place. My goal is that you can take inspiration from the 112 examples in this article and learn how to write a self-evaluation that is honest, detailed and actionable.

Key Takeaways

Self-evaluations must be truthful, detailed and practical in order to be effective.
They aid you in setting realistic development goals and clarify the path you’ll take to achieve them.
You will rarely find a person who is consistently going and growing that hasn’t taken time to reflect on the past and plan for the future (a.k.a done a self-evaluation).

Self-Evaluation Examples

In my experience, the best self-evaluations have depth, transparency and constructive self-reflection.

It’s neither about outlining all your accomplishments nor listing your pitfalls since your last review.

Instead, it’s an opportunity to delve into your contributions to the company and your areas for improvement. An honest evaluation reflects on the challenges you’ve faced, lessons you’ve learned and what you’re doing now and in the future to refine yourself as a human and employee.

Since the best self-evaluations offer room for accomplishment and development, the evaluation examples below offer both types of responses.

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: 5 characteristics of a great self-evaluation.

Communication Examples

Communication is essential in any workplace (and will likely be evaluated in your reviews).

When you think about communication, you likely think of how you converse with others. But don’t forget to review your nonverbal communication skills, written communication and other ways you may build working relationships with others.

Phrases of Accomplishment

“My written communication is timely and well-written. My coworkers and clients know they can rely on me to respond to their messages promptly. If I find myself in a meeting or another situation where I cannot respond right away, I will make others aware of it through my status and email auto-reply.”
“My communication created a collaborative environment during project X, leading to…”
“I demonstrate strong, active listening skills during client meetings, resulting in a deeper understanding of my client’s perspectives and needs.”
“I routinely conduct well-organized meetings and presentations to deliver essential information that resonates with my team and leads them to take action.”

Phrases of Improvement

“I want my nonverbal communication to reflect that I am actively listening when I am in meetings. I am working on making more eye contact with speakers. I am also working on withholding my thoughts until the speaker has completed their presentation and is ready for questions and suggestions.”
“In some instances, I may have assumed others understood my perspective without seeking confirmation, leading to communication gaps in projects. To prevent this, I will leave extra time in meetings for further questions and clarification.”
“I have been told that my body language doesn’t always reflect that I am listening in meetings. I will work on my nonverbal communication skills to reflect that I am actively listening.”
“I often have a hard time adapting my communication style to different audiences. I plan to work on tailoring my communication to individuals and teams accordingly.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - nonverbal communication.

Technical Skills Examples

Your technical skills are one of the top things that your self-evaluations should feature.

Remember to call out those skills by name and be specific about how you grew (or want to grow) your knowledge in them.

“I’ve been completing training in my spare time, so now I have a greater understanding of the software we use, and I am eager to share my knowledge with others.”
“My ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues regarding project X was a key factor in meeting tight deadlines and ensuring project success.”
“I took the initiative to mentor team members in coding with X software. I fostered a culture of continuous learning within the team by sharing my expertise.”
“I effectively collaborated with cross-functional teams, translating technical jargon into clear and accessible language for non-technical stakeholders, facilitating smoother communication.”
“I am struggling to understand the new process for inputting data. I plan to reach out to a peer to teach and assist me.”
“I am committed to improving my coding efficiency by writing cleaner and more modular code, which will contribute to projects getting completed faster.”
“My writing skills have improved, but I know that I can improve my grammar and proofreading. I plan to reach out to one of our editors for a one-on-one training session.”
“I understand the importance of documentation in technical projects, and I am working to improve my clarity and comprehensiveness by implementing the feedback I received and augmenting my own work with helpful AI tools.”

Reliability Examples

You are what you repeatedly do.

The best employees are reliable and take ownership of their work. So, your managers and team members need to be able to rely on you to follow through with work that meets or exceeds expectations and is on time or ahead of schedule.

While writing your review, share examples of times when you were able to step up and be a dependable employee. Bonus points if you can call out those times where you went above and beyond on a project you weren’t originally assigned to!

“I consistently met or exceeded deadlines, demonstrating a high level of dependability in completing tasks and projects.”
“During periods of high workload, I effectively prioritized tasks and maintained a consistent level of productivity, preventing delays in project timelines.”
“I was proactive in anticipating potential challenges and took preventative measures to ensure the smooth execution of projects, earning the trust of my team.”
“My colleagues and supervisors could rely on me to follow through on commitments.”
“Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with my workload, so I am rarely available for other projects and meetings. I am working on better managing my time to be more available.”
“I am actively improving my communication skills about potential delays to ensure that the team is informed and can adjust expectations accordingly.”
“I recognize that consistency is key to reliability, and I’m focused on maintaining a steady level of performance even during busy periods.”
“I am seeking feedback from colleagues to identify areas where I can enhance my reliability and am committed to continuously improving this aspect of my work.”

Flexibility Examples

Projects rarely start and finish according to the original plan, so I recommend honing your ability to be flexible.

If you notice a “flexibility” section on a self-review, reflect on the times you were required to adapt to an extenuating circumstance and how you reacted to it.

“During the holidays, we have periods of high workload. Thankfully, I was able to manage my time and resources to meet changing demands, maintaining a high level of productivity.”
“I effectively collaborated with team members with different working styles, fostering a flexible and inclusive environment that allowed for diverse approaches to problem-solving.”
“I demonstrated adaptability during project X by successfully adjusting the project scope and requirements to better suit the needs of the client. Through communication and schedule adjustments, I was able to ensure the team’s continued progress.”
“In response to unexpected changes, I willingly took on new responsibilities that my teammates could not. By adjusting my priorities, I was able to support the team’s goals.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - adaptability.

“I am aware that I could benefit from being more open to alternative solutions and perspectives, and I am making a conscious effort to embrace different approaches to problem-solving.”
“I understand the importance of being more proactive in anticipating changes, and I am working on developing a mindset that welcomes and prepares for unforeseen challenges.”
“I recognize that my resistance to change may have affected team dynamics. I am taking steps to cultivate a more adaptable and collaborative mindset.”
“I recognize that my preference for routine may hinder my ability to be flexible, and I am open to hearing feedback and ideas about how I can embrace a more adaptable work style similar to that of my team members.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - being open to feedback.

Development Examples

Whether it’s leadership, skill or career development, your manager wants to see you taking steps to grow and develop yourself into a better individual, employee and leader.

Think about what you’ve done to develop yourself and share your experiences and outcomes in your evaluation.

Phrases of accomplishment

“I invest about one hour of my time developing my technical skills each week.”
“I proactively sought opportunities for leadership development, successfully acquiring and applying new skills that enhanced my contributions to the team.”
“I demonstrated a strong commitment to lifelong learning by attending relevant workshops, webinars and training sessions, continuously expanding my skill set.”
“I took the initiative to network with colleagues who excel in specific areas, accelerating my learning curve and contributing to a knowledge-sharing culture.”

Phrases of improvement

“I am working on improving my time management to allocate dedicated time for professional development amidst my regular workload.”
“I acknowledge that I may have been hesitant to step outside my comfort zone, and I am actively seeking ways to embrace challenges that will facilitate skill growth.”
“I understand the importance of setting specific goals for skill development, and I am developing a structured plan to track my progress and achievements in this area.”
“I am seeking guidance from my mentors and colleagues to identify areas where I can focus my efforts for the most impactful career development.”

Collaboration Examples

Not a day goes by when you don’t have the opportunity to collaborate with others in the workplace.

Chances are, your managers want to see you take advantage of the great minds around you and include others on projects where appropriate.

Think about one or two times you effectively collaborated with one or more coworkers to go above and beyond expectations.

“I enjoy taking on new projects that require working with my peers. When I work with my team, I know we will create a great finished product.”
“I facilitated productive meetings and brainstorming sessions, creating an inclusive space where team members felt comfortable sharing their ideas.”
“I willingly shared my expertise with colleagues, contributing to a culture of knowledge-sharing and mutual support.”
“I fostered a collaborative environment by actively seeking input from team members and incorporating diverse perspectives into our projects.”
“I have a hard time collaborating with my team members, and I sometimes feel that I can get my work done faster if I do it myself. However, I understand the importance of different perspectives, so I am learning to embrace teamwork. Even if it takes longer, I know the end product will be better for it.”
“I recognize that there were instances where I could have been more proactive in looking for collaboration opportunities, and I am working on being more attentive to potential ways to partner with others.”
“I am actively improving my communication skills to ensure that my ideas are conveyed clearly and comprehensively during collaborative discussions.”
“I acknowledge that there were occasions where I may have unintentionally dominated discussions, and I am working on creating more space for my colleagues to contribute.”

Initiative Examples

While completing your core tasks come first, your leaders also want to see that you’re a self-starter.

In fact, in my companies , resourcefulness (taking initiative) is one of the top traits I look for in both new hires and promotion potential.

Whether that looks like taking charge of a project, mentoring a fellow teammate or finding ways to improve processes, document examples of ways you took initiative and experienced the result of your resourcefulness.

“I have consistently demonstrated a proactive approach to my work by identifying opportunities for process improvement and sharing my ideas with team leaders.”
“I willingly volunteered for additional projects, showcasing my commitment to the success of the team and the organization.”
“I actively contributed ideas during team discussions and meetings, showing a proactive mindset in problem-solving and decision-making.”
“I demonstrated a proactive approach by identifying areas for improvement and implementing innovative solutions without waiting for direction.”
“While I have taken the lead in individual projects, I recognize the need to enhance my ability to delegate tasks and empower team members.”
“I am committed to improving my time management skills to better allocate time for proactive initiatives amidst my regular workload.”
“I am seeking mentorship and guidance to identify areas where I can contribute more effectively and take the initiative in projects that align with my skills and interests.”
“I am working on enhancing my confidence to take the initiative in situations where I might have hesitated in the past.”

Client Relations Examples

You’ll likely see this field on your self-evaluation if you’re in a client-facing position, since client relations are essential to business operations.

When writing your responses, call out specific clients and projects that were successful due to your ability to maintain a great relationship.

“On the few occasions when my clients were unsatisfied with our work, I quickly rectified the situation by listening to their feedback, revising the deliverable and taking notes for future reference.”
“I demonstrated excellent communication skills, ensuring that clients were well-informed about project progress and any potential challenges.”
“I actively sought client feedback and utilized it to make improvements, showing a commitment to providing exceptional service.”
“I successfully managed client expectations by setting clear and realistic timelines, resulting in increased satisfaction and trust.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - client satisfaction.

“While I have effectively managed existing client relationships, I acknowledge that I need to invest more time in expanding our client base.”
“I recognize that there were instances where I could have been more proactive in anticipating and addressing client concerns. I am actively working on enhancing my foresight in this area by checking in with my clients more often and asking thought-provoking questions.”
“I am seeking additional training in conflict resolution to better handle challenging situations and maintain positive client relationships even in difficult circumstances.”
“I acknowledge the need to provide more detailed and comprehensive updates to clients, and I am implementing strategies to enhance the transparency and clarity of my communication.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - enhancing client relationships.

Timeliness of Work Examples

Demonstrating a commitment to timely completion of tasks shows high personal integrity and impeccable organizational skills.

In your evaluation, highlight instances where you met deadlines, or list the challenges that prevented you from reaching them.

“I consistently meet project deadlines by prioritizing important tasks and improving my time management.”
“I actively communicated with team members to coordinate timelines and expectations, contributing to a well-organized workflow.”
“I implemented efficient time management strategies, allowing me to handle multiple tasks simultaneously without sacrificing the quality of my work.”
“I consistently delivered work ahead of schedule, allowing ample time for revisions and improvements, which positively impacted project outcomes.”
“I occasionally struggle with time estimation, which can lead to overcommitting and missing deadlines. I am working to improve this by picking out certain tasks that I should place a time limit on. This way, I can move through my day without dwelling on unimportant tasks.”
“I am implementing strategies to better prioritize tasks, ensuring that I allocate sufficient time to critical projects to meet deadlines more consistently.”
“I acknowledge the importance of setting realistic timelines, and I am working on creating more accurate estimates for task completion.”
“I understand the need for proactive communication when facing challenges that may impact deadlines, and I am working to enhance my communication in such situations.”

Creativity Examples

I’ve seen creativity drive problem-solving and innovation in multiple workplaces.

As you contemplate your creativity usage, emphasize instances where your unique thinking led to solutions that positively impacted the project or organization.

If you feel you’re lacking creativity, provide some details of things you feel could be improved with some out-of-the-box thinking.

“I actively contribute to a culture of creativity by encouraging out-of-the-box thinking in team discussions.”
“I actively sought out opportunities to infuse creativity into my work, resulting in unique and impactful outcomes that surpassed expectations.”
“I fostered a culture of creativity within the team by encouraging diverse perspectives and brainstorming sessions that led to breakthrough ideas.”
“I contributed to a more visually appealing and engaging work environment by incorporating creative elements into presentations, reports and other deliverables.”
“I am working on stepping out of my comfort zone to explore new approaches and techniques that can enhance the creative aspects of my work.”
“I understand the value of collaboration in fostering creativity, and I am actively seeking more opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues to spark innovation.”
“I acknowledge that there were instances where I may have been too risk-averse in my approach, and I am working on embracing a more experimental mindset to fuel creativity.”
“While I haven’t been the most creative in the past, I am trying to develop unique ideas for improving strenuous processes like data analysis. I feel confident that I can use my creative thinking skills to speed up this process.”

Problem-Solving Skills Examples

Your problem-solving skills are critical for navigating and achieving success in challenging situations.

As you respond to these hard questions about problem-solving skills, ponder times when you proactively identified issues and found long-term solutions.

“I am skilled at thinking on my feet and adapting to unexpected challenges, like when a team member was out sick, and I reevaluated my team’s schedules so we could still meet our strict deadline.”
“I successfully identified root causes of issues, allowing for targeted and sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes.”
“I actively collaborated with team members to brainstorm and implement innovative solutions to complex problems.”
“I demonstrated adaptability by quickly adjusting my problem-solving approach when faced with unexpected obstacles.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - thinking on my feet.

“I occasionally struggle with involving a broader range of perspectives when tackling problems. I tend to rely on my insights. Moving forward, I will bring concerns to my team so we can collaborate on finding a solution.”
“I acknowledge that there were instances where I may have been too focused on immediate solutions, and I am working on incorporating more long-term thinking into my problem-solving approach.”
“I am seeking additional training and resources to strengthen my problem-solving toolkit and address specific areas where I feel less confident.”
“I recognize the need to enhance my problem-solving skills, particularly to identify and implement effective solutions under time constraints. Since I admire my teammate’s ability to make fast decisions, I set up a mentorship session to learn from them.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - enhance problem-solving skills.

Quality of Work Performance Review Examples

Your work quality reflects your expertise, skill, professionalism and overall success in your position (and is likely to be reviewed in a self-evaluation).

When responding to quality of work questions, think about how you used attention to detail and commitment to excellence to achieve great results.

“I actively sought and applied feedback to enhance the quality of my work, leading to continuous improvement in my deliverables.”
“I paid meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and precision in all aspects of my assignments.”
“I successfully met project goals while maintaining a high level of quality, showcasing my ability to balance efficiency with thoroughness.”
“I actively sought out opportunities for professional development to stay updated on industry best practices, contributing to the overall improvement of the team’s output.”
“I recognize that there were instances where I could have improved the quality of my work, and I am actively seeking feedback to identify specific areas for enhancement.”
“I am refining my attention to detail to ensure that all aspects of my work meet the highest standards of accuracy and precision.”
“I understand the importance of thorough research in maintaining high-quality work, and I am actively seeking to enhance my research skills in areas where improvement is needed.”
“I am committed to setting aside dedicated time for thorough reviews and revisions to catch potential errors and improve the quality of my deliverables.”

Project Management Examples

Your project management skills prove that you can organize tasks and allocate your time and resources effectively to complete projects within deadlines.

As you reflect on your project management skills, think about the times when you executed a project successfully through time management, coordination and effective communication

“I successfully led cross-functional teams in the completion of projects, ensuring we completed all tasks on time and within scope.”
“I effectively utilized project management tools to plan, monitor and control project timelines, resulting in successful project deliveries.”
“I actively communicated project progress to stakeholders, keeping them informed and addressing any concerns promptly.”
“I demonstrated strong organizational skills, creating and maintaining detailed project plans that contributed to the team’s overall success.”
“I am working on improving my communication with team members and stakeholders to provide more frequent and transparent updates on project progress.”
“I understand the importance of risk management in project execution, and I am actively seeking ways to improve my ability to identify and mitigate potential risks.”
“I acknowledge that there were instances where we didn’t meet project timelines, and I am implementing strategies to improve my time management and prioritize tasks more effectively.”
“I am seeking feedback from team members to identify areas where I can improve collaboration and teamwork in project settings, and I am committed to making adjustments based on that feedback.”

Leadership Abilities Examples

Whether you’re seeking a leadership role or not, management will likely ask you how well you lead others. Leadership can include leading yourself and others as you inspire unique solutions, foster collaboration and take initiative.

Think about how you were able to use your leadership skills to support the achievements of your team and the organization.

“I demonstrated strong decision-making skills, providing clear direction and guidance to the team last week in our brainstorming session.”
“I actively facilitated effective communication within the team, ensuring that everyone felt heard and understood.”
“I successfully delegated tasks based on team members’ strengths, leading to improved efficiency and overall project success.”
“I led by example, embodying the values and work ethic I expected from my team, which positively influenced our collective performance.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - decision-making skills.

“I recognize the need to enhance my delegation skills, and I am actively working on better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each team member to assign tasks more effectively.”
“I am working on providing more constructive feedback to team members that is both helpful and motivating.”
“I understand the importance of fostering a more inclusive team culture, and I am actively seeking ways to ensure that all team members feel valued and heard.”
“I acknowledge that there were instances where I could have communicated more effectively during challenging situations, and I am working on improving my crisis management and communication skills.”

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Self evaluation example - involving the entire team.

The Purpose of Self-Evaluations

I believe that great self-assessments act as a powerful tool to help you discover who you are, who you’d like to become and how to get there.

When self-evaluation is done right, you can:

Prepare your thoughts for performance reviews
Determine your progress
Align yourself with the organization
Set future goals
Define essential areas of improvement
Highlight your strengths
Identify abilities and skills that may be going unused
Discover areas where you can help and train others
Demonstrate accountability

7 Tips for Writing an Honest Self-Evaluation

A great evaluation that will achieve the above outcomes is specific, detailed and most importantly – honest .

But if you’re new to writing evaluations, you may have no idea where to start.

How to Write an Authentic and Thorough Self-Evaluation: Tips for writing your next self-evaluation.

Here are seven things to do while writing your self-evaluation:

Reflect on past goals. Ask yourself, “Did I achieve any of my past goals?” If you did, call them out in your evaluation and the results of achieving your goals. If not, make a game plan for how you will accomplish your goals next time.
Be specific. A vague self-evaluation benefits no one. Give examples. Use detail. If there’s a problem, share the very root of it. The more details you offer, the more you and your manager will learn from it.
Use the S.T.A.R. (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method. With the S.T.A.R. method, you will provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of your experiences. A S.T.A.R. answer may look something like, “Last month, I was working on X project, and I had an extremely tight timeline. I immediately scheduled a team meeting to see if any members were willing to share the workload. I was fortunate enough to have two members take on some of the work. Through delegation and constant communication, we completed all of the work on time and exceeded the client’s expectations.”
Provide examples of growth. When evaluating yourself, don’t forget to mention areas where you’re actively growing and improving. Even if that skill isn’t perfect, the work you’re putting into it is always worth mentioning. You may say something like, “I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my project management skills. Since my last review, I’ve been able to successfully manage and schedule 12 projects and turn them in on or ahead of schedule.”
Address feedback received. Chances are, you’ve been on the receiving end of feedback a few times, even between evaluation periods. Don’t be afraid to mention some of that feedback in your evaluation and what you did or are doing to improve. For example, you could add something like, “My coworker mentioned that she feels I don’t make myself available enough to address questions she has about project details. To remedy this, I am implementing an open door policy for three hours a day to make myself available for anyone to come to me with questions.”
Remain objective and professional. You must provide an honest and constructive assessment throughout your evaluation. To remain objective, remember to use a neutral tone, refrain from being defensive, avoid using personal opinions and be transparent. Practicing professionalism and objectivity will demonstrate self-awareness and commitment to growth — two characteristics your employer looks for in these reviews.
Set actionable future goals. Most self-evaluation forms will already have a section where you’ll write down future goals. And while a goal can be as simple as “I want to improve my collaboration skills,” it’s not necessarily effective if you don’t also write down your game plan. Instead of the previous goal, you could write, “I want to improve my collaboration skills by being more open to my coworker’s ideas when I am looking for inspiration. For my next few projects, I will message our team chats with a brief project synopsis and see if anyone would like to lend ideas to or collaborate with me on the project.”

Key Benefits of Self-Evaluations

With so much already on your plate, you may wonder, ”Why should I complete a self-evaluation when my boss is already reviewing my performance?”

You’d be surprised by how many times I’ve heard those words.

To me, a self-evaluation is much more than a review of your performance. It’s a time for self-reflection to understand how far you’ve come and see where you’re going.

It’s a visual representation of who you are and who you want to be.

I can personally testify that the results of self-evaluations are tremendous when taken seriously. Here are the top four benefits I often see from those who conduct honest self-reviews.

1. Increases Self-Awareness

When you evaluate yourself, you might find that you can better recognize your work style, preferences, values and more. As you learn more about yourself as an employee, you can enhance your skills, improve workplace relationships and set yourself up for success.

2. Accomplishes Realistic Goal Setting

No one can set a realistic goal for you the way you can. While a manager or coworker can help you create a goal, you’re the only person who truly knows what you can accomplish (and your limits on accomplishing it). A truthful self-evaluation can help you clarify your priorities, instill a sense of direction and create a plan to help you achieve your goals.

3. Opens a Line of Communication and Feedback

Self-evaluations should always be conducted before the manager review. Doing this allows for more open discussions during the review process and facilitates a mutual understanding of feedback on strengths, weaknesses, expectations, opportunities and more.

4. Encourages Accountability and Ownership

Individuals who regularly participate in self-evaluations show accountability for their actions and outcomes. Encouraging employees to reflect on their past actions, achievements, strengths and weaknesses can help them learn more about how their work impacts those around them.

Growth and Success at Awesome Motive

If you’re looking for a place to grow and work with incredible humans, Awesome Motive may be the place for you. At Awesome Motive, we encourage and support you in reaching your fullest potential. Through powerful leadership and goal-setting tools like self-evaluations and frequent reviews, we believe in setting up our employees for success — whatever that looks like to them.

If you are committed to excellence and ready for a workplace that has a big vision and wants to see you win in it, check out our job openings at Awesome Motive today.

To achieving success through growth and learning, Thomas

Hello! I'm Thomas, and I'm a tech entrepreneur, veteran business owner, seasoned investor and a leader of leaders. My software powers organizational success for more than 25 million websites across the globe, and my content is read by thousands each month.

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101 Self-Evaluation Examples to Nail Your Performance Review

Self evaluation and its impact on employees
Examples for job performance
Examples for innovation and creativity
Examples for communication
Examples for customer experience
Examples for performance improvement
Performance review comment examples

Evaluating yourself impartially and without favoring yourself can be one of the most challenging things you might have to do. The more honest you are with yourself, the better the evaluation results will be. And feedback is the backbone of a thriving company.

After all, 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week. So how should you go about the process? Here are 101 Self-Evaluation examples, categorized and sorted by use-case to help you nail your performance reviews!

Self-Evaluation and its Impact on Employees

You might wonder why you go through all this trouble and evaluate yourself when the company conducts an evaluation for you.

It's because the insights that you get from your peers are evaluated against your self-rating which will help you understand how people see you, and is an excellent way to increase self-awareness.

Let's now understand how self-evaluations positively help your employees.

Positive Impact of Self-Evaluation on Employees

1. Employees are More Aware

Self-evaluations help employees identify their strengths and areas of improvement, thereby making them more self-aware and dedicated to their personal growth.

2. Leads to Greater Accountability

Self-evaluations encourage employees to take responsibility for their performance. As a result, they tend to be more proactive to accomplish tasks and counter challenges before they arise.

3. Better Communicators

Employees are more open and communicate better with their managers after they evaluate themselves. Therefore, workplace communication is enhanced.

4. Helps Them Prepare for Performance Reviews

Employees are better prepared for future performance reviews after self-evaluating themselves. Articulating their strengths and weaknesses before-hand makes the review process seem productive and less daunting.

5. Allows for Clear Goal-Setting

Evaluating and reflecting on one's performance helps set realistic and achievable goals . This helps them achieve targets sooner, and aligns their own goals with that of the organization's goals.

So yes, it is extremely important and impactful on employees. Now let's look at several examples on self-evaluation examples that will help refine your own examples.

Self-Evaluation Examples for Job performance

These examples assist employees in self-assessment and provide a clear roadmap for enhancing their job competencies .

I promote a team-based work atmosphere by including everyone on the team.
I have successfully made sure that our website's "bounce rate" goes down.
Working on challenging activities beyond my job description is something I find rewarding. Helping coworkers and building teams makes me happy.
I appreciate teamwork and leadership. Overachieving my goals helps me feel successful.
I like new challenges and learning new things. I appreciate open communication and collective problem-solving.
I like non-work stuff. I help coworkers with no effort. I am also happy to foster teamwork and achieve goals.
Exceeding employment criteria motivates me. Working together, answering questions, and helping others is wonderful.
My hustle includes doing the extra work. I like helping teammates, managing teamwork, and celebrating triumphs.
I willingly address my peers' questions and help clear any confusion without any inconvenience.
I make sure that I'm willing to talk, and easy to reach if my coworkers need help.
I manage my team effectively and engage in activities to enhance our strength.
I am proud to share that exceeding my achievement goals brings me great joy.
I adore finishing tasks and challenging myself. Helping colleagues and increasing abilities through shared activities is gratifying and essential to success.
I find work enjoyable, not tedious, and I extend my support to coworkers through volunteering outside of work.
I appreciate challenging tasks, and I try to help, communicate, and collaborate in the office.
I go above and beyond for our team. I take on projects, support others, and foster workplace collaboration.
I care about my work and find pleasure and worth in it.
A lot of the time, I undertake projects that go beyond my designated job duties.
I always try to take on new, hard tasks.
I make sure that I'm willing to talk and easy to reach if my coworkers need help.

Try out a self-evaluation template for free. Test out the survey here to get a feel for how it looks like.

Schedule a meeting with our product experts and explore other perks of self-assessments on ThriveSparrow.

Self-Evaluation Examples for Innovation and Creativity

Here are examples of self-evaluation statements focused on innovation and creativity, highlighting an individual's commitment to finding new solutions, and improving their work approach.

I'm always looking for new ways to get my work done and keep track of my responsibilities.
I am committed to my career growth and will consistently enroll in training courses targeting the specific skills essential for my professional development.
I always test myself to enhance productivity and accountability, finding excitement in workshops that focus on specialized work skills.
I enjoy learning and working with others. Staying updated through professional development is a key part of my approach.
I prioritize novel ideas and advancements in my field. I quickly optimize processes to enhance efficiency and usability.
Innovative solutions thrill me. I enjoy learning and want to develop new ideas. Collaboration helps me solve creative problems from different viewpoints.
I tackle every project with a creative mindset. Always studying business helps me stay relevant in the industry.
I love work inventiveness. I love learning. I learn from others and solve problems constructively.
I stay updated on the latest ideas, trends, and breakthroughs in my field.
I appreciate innovation, seeing every role as an opportunity for improvement. I adapt rapidly to increase productivity and user experience since I'm continually learning. I strive harder because of their talents.
I value learning in my personal and professional life and am always seeking for methods to improve my job.
I always try different methods to complete my tasks. Targeted instruction and peer interaction boost my skills.
I think outside the box for every project. I want to always learn. Working with others inspires me to learn.
I love working with others in my area and learning new skills.
I've decided what I want to accomplish with my career and began taking action.
I learn quickly and can fix things to make them more efficient and nice.
Learning is my basis, personally and professionally. I pro-actively seek work-enhancing learning. To innovate and push limitations, I approach each project differently.
I approach every assignment differently and tackle difficulties creatively.
I contribute fresh ideas in team discussions, fostering creative problem-solving.
I regularly explore new technologies to bring innovative solutions to my projects.

Self-Evaluation Examples for Communication

These examples are centered on communication, illustrating how individuals assess and articulate their effectiveness in conveying ideas, engaging in teamwork, and fostering clear and constructive interactions.

I handle disagreements with care, ensuring a positive resolution.
To keep everyone informed of significant and little changes, I always update my coworkers and managers.
I make sure my team knows the objectives.
I communicate my thoughts to the whole company.
While being very considerate, I give my team members comments and ideas all the time.
I always let partners, coworkers, and customers know about success or changes that might affect them.
I handle serious conflicts gently. Sharing crucial information promotes teamwork. Communication transparency aligns goals.
Our team's aims are explained to guarantee comprehension. I share ideas and respect sensible feedback to help my team succeed.
I swiftly inform partners, coworkers, and customers of critical developments. I'm clarifying conversations despite my flaws. I stay cheerful and encourage healthy discourse, even in conflict.
Politeness is my communication style. I spontaneously and honestly congratulate coworkers. As I strengthen my communication, I will tackle difficult conversations with grace and positivity.
I handle sensitive matters carefully to sustain relationships through disagreements. I notify everyone to accurately communicate organizational aims and concepts.
Honest updates and feedback help in effective communication. I cherish colleagues' successes but also honest, entertaining conversations.
I build team and outside relationships by being approachable and trying to understand others. I respect my teammates' achievements.
I strive to be honest, but I just discovered I'm not always clear when I speak. I'll plan to enhance my communication.
Despite knowing the need for harsh chats with a positive mindset, I steer clear of them.
Because I can talk to people politely, I can get along well with my team members and other members outside of work.
When my coworkers do well, I'm proud of them and don't think twice about applauding them.

Self-Evaluation Examples for Customer Experience

These examples are great for customer-facing teams, and showcases empathy, active listening, and effective communication to understand and meet customer needs. These examples can help individuals assess themselves in their customer-facing field, thereby enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction.

The way I talk to customers makes me very thoughtful, and I try to see things from their point of view by thinking like them.
By persuading them and staying calm, I am good at dealing with tough and argumentative customers.
Empathy helps me understand consumers. I softly persuade reluctant clients. Customer input guides our decisions, therefore I listen.
Empathy helps me address client queries fast. I persuade and calm challenging clients to succeed. Positive customer responses have grown 80% owing to feedback-driven improvements.
My consumer relationships are based on empathy. Caution calms stressful customer conversations. I carefully consider client feedback before determining.
Customer empathy and problem-solving are my aims. Problems are overcome by being cool and convincing demanding Consumer feedback helps me enhance our products.
I care about customers. I ease challenging customers to success.
Empathizing with customers helps me understand them. I sometimes convince and pacify difficult customers. Active listening and customer choice are my preferences.
I pay attention and learn from users.
I prioritize empathy and customer needs. I ease challenging customers to success. We consider consumer feedback.
In my interactions with customers, I listen carefully and use their feedback to improve our services. I also work to calmly and effectively handle demanding customers.
Customer empathy and understanding are my goals. I persuade and solve problems.
I utilize client feedback to enhance services.
Active listening is my key technique for ensuring customer satisfaction.
I try to be cool and persuade tough customers.
I feel for customers. I settle problems with peace and persuasion.
Before making a decision, I carefully listen to what the customers have to say.
If I see that a customer doesn't know much about our goods or services, I make sure that their questions are answered and that they get help right away.
My good customer feedback has grown by 80% in the past year.
Being quick and helpful are two things I do to really improve the customer experience.

Self-Evaluation Examples for Performance Improvement

The following examples help you assess and focus on enhancing and achieving high performance .

I'm aware of how often I count on the team's work. I'm working on being able to achieve more and add to my team's work so that I can do that better.
I know how important communication is when managing a team, and I always work to make sure there isn't any confusion within or between team members. To help me make more sales, I'm working on getting better at following up.
Teamwork makes me work harder. Team communication is crucial, therefore I prevent misunderstandings.
Self-awareness and feedback help me achieve team success. I improve workplace harmony and people skills by working on interpersonal issues.
Although balancing goals is difficult, I prioritize and manage time well. My strength is writing, but I wish to speak better. My schedule includes a customer service workshop.
I speak well in small groups but want to in bigger ones.
After identifying my weaknesses, I am committed to improving in these areas.
I like transparent communication to minimize team misunderstanding. I try to improve my sales strategy by following up.
Self-awareness and criticism inspire me. For various goals, I prioritize time and tasks.
Collaboration helps me achieve goals, therefore I collaborate.
The feedback I receive increases my self-awareness.
I am dedicated to contributing more to strengthen our team dynamics.
Being able to see myself clearly has helped me realize that I can use feedback to keep me motivated to reach my goals.
My goal is to improve my people skills and calm down events that make things worse between me and my coworkers.
I want to make a personal communication plan to help my team members work in an open and honest way.
I sometimes have trouble meeting all of my goals at once. Working hard to get things in order by handling my time and goals well is what I'm doing.
While I agree that I tend to communicate better through writing, I am still determined to improve my spoken communication and put more of my attention on it.
I think my customer service skills could be better. To get better at these skills, I'm going to take a workshop course.
I usually figure things out on my own, but I'm trying really hard to get used to having other people help me get things done quickly.
While I'm good at short and clear communication in small groups, I often fail to get my point across when I'm giving information to a bigger group. To improve my skills in this area, I'm going to take a class right now.
It's likely that what works best for me will guide me, but I also plan to try new and different things.
I'm fine with telling close friends and family about my ideas, but I'd like to share these with the whole team.

This may also interest you: 101 employee pulse survey questions for your ready reference.

Bonus: Performance Review Comment Examples

These examples are not related to self-evaluations, but gives a general idea of how peer-reviews comments look while rating the subject.

Example 1: Exceeding Expectations

"Emma consistently exceeds expectations by delivering high-quality work ahead of deadlines. Her innovative ideas have directly contributed to increased team efficiency, making her a key asset."

Example 2: Strong Collaboration Skills

"David consistently fosters a collaborative environment. His ability to facilitate open communication among team members ensures projects run smoothly, and deadlines are met without friction."

Example 3: Growth Opportunity

"Jake's work has shown promise, but there's room for improvement in his time management. With focused attention on prioritization, he can meet project deadlines more consistently."

Example 4: Developing Leadership

"Olivia has demonstrated strong leadership potential, particularly in how she mentors junior team members. With continued development, she could thrive in a formal leadership role."

Example 5: Steady Performer

"Sophia consistently meets performance expectations, delivering solid work within set deadlines. By taking more initiative in project planning, she can further elevate her contribution."

Example 6: Needs Development

"Mark produces good work but struggles with staying organized. Improving his workflow and communication with the team will help him achieve better results."

Example 7: High Performer

"Anna consistently meets and often exceeds her goals, particularly in client engagement. Her proactive approach in addressing client needs strengthens the company’s relationship with key accounts."

Example 8: Reliable Contributor

"Alex meets expectations and is reliable in delivering quality work. His collaborative spirit enhances team projects, though there’s potential to expand his role by contributing more ideas."

Example 9: Room for Improvement

"Lily has a strong attention to detail but occasionally struggles with managing multiple tasks. By improving her multitasking abilities, she will deliver even stronger results."

Example 10: Falling Short

"James has not consistently met the required performance standards. Focusing on improving his communication skills and seeking feedback will help address ongoing issues."

Self-evaluations are something necessary that every employee needs before a performance review. With it employees can get a good gist of their strengths and improvement areas, helping refine every aspect of their performance.

You can integrate your performance management with ThriveSparrow's Goals [OKRs] to help your teams meet their performance goals consistently. It is a strategic integration that can enhance inter-departmental collaboration and productivity.

Talk to our experts to learn how your managers can set and achieve team goals more effectively by using structured frameworks like OKRs.

101 Arrows in your Quiver!

Now, you have a clear idea of the kinds of questions you can ask yourself to gain a clear and unbiased understanding of your performance across various areas. Once you get the hang of things, you will start coming up with questions of your own! And if you need a little bit of push to find the right questions for your employees, ThriveSparrow is here to help!