Performance reviews
Performance Review Survival Book
Coloring Scenes, Worksheets, and Scripts for Review Season
By Jon Orozco
A friendly way to prepare evidence, rehearse hard conversations, and turn feedback into goals.
In development
This title is being developed. The sample below introduces the current manuscript; release details may change.
Try a sample situationWho this is for
Employees and managers facing annual or mid-year reviews, and the people who gift them calm preparation.
Review season creates dread, forgotten wins, and defensive reactions to feedback.
The current manuscript includes 20 practice situations, reflective coloring plates, and 16 practical tools.
The practice inside
01Before the Review
Good reviews start months early. This part covers the blank form, the wins you forgot, fair self-ratings, early feedback, and numbers.
02In the Room
The conversation itself. This part covers the opening, hard feedback, surprises, silence, and remote reviews.
03Hard Reviews
Some reviews sting. This part covers low ratings, unfair comments, new managers, disagreement, and performance plans.
04After the Review
The meeting ends but the work starts. This part covers goals, raises, promotions, thanks, and keeping a record.
A situation from the manuscript
The blank self-review
The form says, "List your accomplishments." You stare at it. You remember lunch.
Start with what you can prove.
- A project I finished:
- Who it helped:
- A number or fact that shows it:
- Something I learned:
Make your call, then read the field note
Memory is short. Evidence is strong. Keep a running list of wins all year.
Try this next: Write down three wins from the last 90 days.
Practice with fictional details. This excerpt offers general education, not legal, financial, or clinical advice. Use approved workplace processes and qualified support for real cases.
Tools you can return to
- Your review year
- My wins log
- Before the review
- Self-review worksheet
- Feedback I received
- Push back or take it in?
- Respond to a tough comment
- Review season bingo
- The day of the review
- Twelve months of habits
- Goals and dates
- Monthly ten minute update
- Raise ask prep
- Thank-you tracker
- Questions for my manager
- Next year goals
Put the practice to work
Use one situation for individual reflection or a manager discussion. Compare your first response with the field note, then choose one change to try in the following week.
Discuss a team learning session →A book supports practice. For an active workplace issue, follow your organization’s process and seek appropriate professional guidance.
Keep exploring
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Write a factual record someone else can understand, with the employee’s account and a clear next step.
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Triage competing cases, make the queue visible, and give each next action an owner and a date.
Promoted Over Your Peers
Practice the shift from coworker to supervisor without turning friendship into favoritism.