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PERFORMANCE REVIEW PHRASES

Dependability and reliability performance review phrases

Dependability and reliability: Meets commitments, and flags risks early when a commitment is at risk.

Reliability is not "never misses a deadline". It is making commitments carefully and telling people early when one is at risk. These phrases capture both halves.

Replace [Name] and [example] with the person and a real piece of work.

Strengths: exceeds expectations

  • [Name] delivers what they commit to. Over the period they met every agreed deadline, including [example].
  • When a commitment is at risk, [Name] says so early with a new plan, so nobody is surprised.
  • [Name] is the person the team relies on when something must not go wrong, such as [example].
  • [Name] estimates carefully and then hits their estimates, which makes planning around their work easy.
  • When plans changed on [example], [Name] re-planned quickly and kept everyone informed.
  • [Name]’s consistency is one of the team’s biggest assets. Their work is predictable in the best sense.

Solid: meets expectations

  • [Name] meets most deadlines and keeps me informed about progress.
  • [Name] is dependable on routine work; the next step is the same reliability on larger, less certain projects.
  • [Name] shows up prepared and follows through on what they agree.
  • [Name] is punctual and present for the team.
  • [Name] usually flags delays; flagging them a few days earlier would help others plan.

Needs improvement

  • Several deadlines slipped this period, including [example], and the delay was only raised on the day. Early warning is the main thing to work on.
  • [Name] tends to say yes to everything and then struggles to deliver. I would like them to check their capacity before committing.
  • Estimates on [Name]’s work have been optimistic by about [x]. We will add a buffer and review estimates together.
  • [Name]’s attendance at [meeting] has been inconsistent, which affects the team. I need them there or to send an update.
  • Commitments made in our one-on-ones have not always happened. Writing them down and checking them weekly will help.
  • [Name]’s quality drops when they rush to meet a deadline. Renegotiating the date is better than handing over unfinished work.

Self-review phrases for dependability and reliability

  • I met my commitments on [project] and warned the team early when [risk] came up.
  • I improved my estimates by breaking work into smaller pieces.
  • I want to say no more often, so the things I commit to get my full attention.

How to make these phrases land

  • Mention how risks were handled, not just whether deadlines were met. Early warning is the habit worth rewarding.
  • Use one phrase per point and follow it with what happened. A phrase without an example reads like a template.
  • For areas to improve, say what good looks like and what support you will give.
  • Nothing in a review should be a surprise. Raise problems in one-on-ones during the year.

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