48+ Useful Self Appraisal Comments By Employee Examples

Self-appraisals are a crucial part of a comprehensive performance review system. They help to ascertain how employees feel about their performance, understand what motivates them, and gain insights into the challenges they’re facing.

This information enables managers to deliver targeted support and resources to employees based on their unique needs.

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However, figuring out what to say in a self-appraisal, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience writing one can be daunting. You have to give a balanced analysis of your work putting yourself down or sounding egotistical.

In this post, we’re going to share examples of self-appraisal comments that you can use as inspiration when writing a personal evaluation for your next round of performance reviews.

Communication self-appraisal comments

If you’re asked to evaluate your communication skills, here are self-appraisal comments examples you can use to highlight what you do well and where there’s room for improvement.

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Strengths and achievements

1. I try to ensure that the lines of communication between me and my team members and leaders are always open by providing constant updates about the progress of my tasks through the company’s internal communication channels.

2. I’ve been able to apply the learnings from the giving and receiving feedback training to my interactions with my team and it has greatly improved our dynamic.

I’m purposeful about delivering positive feedback and using constructive language and sensitivity to frame my criticisms.

3. I am able to build good relationships with my colleagues because they can always count on me to respond to their messages promptly and graciously even outside of regular work hours.

Challenges and improvement areas

4. I’ve been told I don’t always do a good job of carrying everyone along on the status of the tasks I’m working on. But I’ve been working to address this by communicating whenever I move to the next step of a project task so everyone can easily track my progress.

5. I tend to abstain from having difficult conversations so as not to deal with the awkwardness of the situation.

I understand that having these conversations are often necessary for growth and to avoid resentment so I’m learning to embrace the discomfort and say what needs to be heard.

6. People tend to judge me as being confrontational or unduly critical even in neutral situations where that is not my intention. So I plan to be more conscious of my tone when communicating with others.

Also Read: Constructive Criticism Examples At The Workplace

Productivity and work ethic self-appraisal comments

These self-appraisal comments examples will help you show off your work ethic in a good light, draw attention to how much you’ve been able to accomplish or explain any issues that may have gotten in the way of your productivity.

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Strengths and achievements

7. I am able to prioritize tasks based on urgency and order and importance to ensure my deliverables are always completed on time, always.

8. While we were trying to complete the X project in time for launch, I stayed late and gave up my weekends for most of the month to help us get to the finish line.

I did this because I understand that sometimes sacrifices have to be made to enable us to reach our goals as a team and an organization.

9. I have taken deliberate steps to boost my productivity at work since the last performance evaluation.

I’ve been using the Timeblocking and Priority Matrix techniques to help me better structure my schedule so I can prioritize and execute tasks efficiently.

Also Read: Best Personal Strength Examples

Challenges and improvement areas

10. There have been times in the past when I felt demotivated as a result of being criticized for missing deadlines without sufficient notice.

Even though I had legitimate reasons for falling behind on tasks, I realize that staying silent instead of informing everyone of a potential delay disrupts the workflow. Going forward, I will be more intentional about giving advance notice for anticipated delays.

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11. I tend to struggle with accomplishing tasks on time which increases the number of tasks I have to tackle the following day. I am working to address this and minimize how much time I spend on each task by setting personal deadlines and assigning blocks of time to specific tasks.

12. While I always deliver my tasks on schedule, I sometimes struggle with coming in early to work. I recognize that there are rules and expectations that govern the office and the importance of respecting them.

I will strive to minimize unwarranted lateness by waking up and leaving for the office earlier.

Check Out: Start, Stop, Continue Examples

Time management self-appraisal comments

These self-appraisal examples can help demonstrate how adept or invested you are in managing your time responsibly so you are not constantly missing deadlines or falling behind on tasks.

Strengths and achievements

13. In the past, I’ve had a hard time organizing, prioritizing, and managing tasks to ensure on-time completion but I’ve gotten a lot better at it.

In the last quarter, I only turned in one assignment late and only because the project was hit with an unexpected curveball.

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14. I have learned how to say no to tasks when I’m at capacity instead of accepting them and embarking on a mad rush to complete them all in an inadequate timeframe.

15. I am very organized so I’m able to stay on top of projects and juggle multiple tasks easily even with time constraints. I am frequently on the lookout for a better way of doing things that will help me prevent responsibilities and obligations from falling through the cracks.

Also Read: Top Weaknesses List & Examples

Challenges and improvement areas

16. I struggle with managing time productively. If a task seems too tough or demanding, I tend to postpone doing it until the deadline has almost arrived.

This ultimately leaves me with barely enough time to do it perfectly and forces me to work under pressure so I’m working to address this.

17. I will take greater care in planning meetings and setting a clear agenda to ensure that they don’t end up taking more time than anticipated.

18. I will make an intentional effort to abide by designated break schedules as I tend to lose track of time and over-extend breaks, which eats into the time I have to complete my planned tasks for the day.

Growth and development self-appraisal comments

Here are some examples of comments you can write down if you’re asked to review your growth and development during a performance appraisal.

Strengths and achievements

19. I am passionate about upgrading my skills and fixing any knowledge gaps I might have. Over the past three months, I have successfully completed two marketing courses and earned a Facebook Advertising certification, which I believe will allow me to perform even better at my job.

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20. I take the time to research emerging trends in the X industry that I could leverage for the benefit of the company.

I also search out available learning and development options that could help me be more impactful in my current role or prepare me to take on more advanced roles in the future.

21. I’m good at creating and finding opportunities to network with other interesting professionals in my field and learn from their wealth of knowledge and experiences.

Also Read: Professional Development Goal Examples

Challenges and improvement areas

22. Last month, I came to the realization that I had not been making an effort to upskill lately. Since my desire is not to stagnate in my knowledge or role, I will do a better job at carving out time for learning.

23. In this quarter, I will focus on creating a defined development plan with realistic milestones for my short-term and long-term career goals.

24. Even though I want to level up my skills, figuring out the right courses to take is challenging for me. I plan to resolve this by seeking counsel and mentorship from someone who has done my job and is currently doing the job I aspire to.

I believe they will be in the best position to offer learning recommendations for my skill set.

Teamwork and collaboration self-appraisal comments

The following self-appraisal examples can be used to indicate your commitment to being a team player and how well you collaborate with your coworkers to achieve the organization’s goals.

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Strengths and achievements

25. I actively strive to connect with my colleagues including those in other departments. I’m always quick to offer encouragement and praise to highlight when the positive impact my peers make and to offer my support when needed.

26. Last quarter, I played an active role in fostering team rapport by organizing work events and after-work hangouts to help us bond and get to know each other better without the pressures of deadlines and projects getting in the way.

27. I believe that I do my best work in collaborative environments so I try to contribute to building that by sharing my knowledge and expertise freely with my colleagues.

I don’t hesitate to go to them for guidance or feedback, nor do I shy away from incorporating their suggestions into my work.

Challenges and improvement areas

28. I am learning that just because my ideas are good doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best solutions for the situation.

I work with brilliant people so it’s only natural that they’ll come up with better ideas sometimes and this doesn’t invalidate me or my work in any way. I plan to make more of an effort to solicit and listen to the opinions of my team members.

29. I am introverted and socially awkward by nature so I struggle with forming connections with coworkers, which sometimes gets interpreted as being standoffish and rude. I am learning to step out of my comfort zone and be more open with the people I work with.

Also Read: Best Testimonial Examples For Employees

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30. I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so I will often assume the lead role on projects even without being asked so I can control the outcomes more closely.

That’s not always fair to other team members so in the future, I’d like to allow others to lead projects and trust in their ability to make the right calls.

Problem-solving self-appraisal comments

Whether you have a natural talent for coming up with creative solutions to workplace problems or you’re struggling with this skill, here are some examples of self evaluation comments you can use to highlight your strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths and achievements

31. I don’t let challenges keep me down. When roadblocks come my way, I see them as opportunities to think outside the box and solve the problem at hand in a way that minimizes the risks involved for everyone.

When we suffered a security breach that threatened to compromise our customers’ data, I was able to identify the source of the threat, squash it, and implement protocols to keep the situation from arising in the future.

32. Before starting any new project or task I like to engage my organizational and planning skills to map out how I expect things to go.

This allows me to envisage and prepare for potential challenges I might encounter along the way. Then I devise strategies for tackling the problem so I don’t spend too much time feeling stuck if and when they occur.

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33. I am able to solve problems efficiently because I approach them by first seeking to understand the problem as comprehensively as possible.

I reach out to my team members and other experts for their opinions, then I break down the issue into smaller parts so I can analyze each contributory factor individually.

Explore: Smart Work Goals For Employees

Challenges and improvement areas

34. Rather than try to solve a problem on my own first, I often skip ahead and go to other people for solutions.

I am realizing that this isn’t allowing me to explore my problem-solving potential so in the future I plan to take greater ownership over fixing the issues I encounter.

35. I am often anxious when I’m faced with making key decisions on the spot. I would like to work on building my confidence so I can be more effective in these situations.

36. There have been times when I struggled to find timely and constructive solutions to issues. To address this, I have reached out to my manager and some coworkers who shine in this area to learn the methods they use to address issues so I can apply them to future scenarios.

Achievements and performance self-appraisal comments

Did you hit your KPIs for the last quarter? Were there times where you hit new milestones, exceeded expectations, or contributed to the success of the organization in some tangible way?

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Use the following self-appraisal comments examples to exemplify your strengths and challenges as it relates to your job performance and accomplishments.

Strengths and achievements

37. I successfully increased the number of impressions on our website to over 1 million per month over the past year, which amounted to a 425% increase from the previous year.

I was able to achieve this by using innovative SEO methods and building a refined content strategy in collaboration with the content team.

38. During the XX product launch, the product and sales teams noticed a few technical problems that would have prevented the launch from going smoothly. I was able to diagnose and resolve the issues quickly so the launch was able to take place as planned.

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39. I standardized the company’s training program and designed a comprehensive onboarding plan/program for new hires in Q2. So far, the new programs have reported significant increases in engagement, course-completion, and shorter time-to productivity.

Challenges and improvement areas

40. I wasn’t able to improve on my performance as much as I planned since the last performance review.

I suffered an unexpected health setback and had to take leave for six weeks to recuperate but I intend to work hard to catch up and make up for the reduced productivity in the coming months.

41. Although I achieved most of my KPIs, I fell short of my sales targets for the last quarter. Even though I was able to generate as many high-quality leads as the previous months, they were not converting as expected.

I believe this is as a result of market instability so I plan to reshape my strategy to address these unforeseeable challenges in the future.

Also Read: Best Workplace Culture Examples To Follow

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42. While I managed to increase customer engagement and conversions, I fell short of the target to reduce customer attrition by 10%.

So in the coming period, I plan to focus on optimizing our customer retention game plan and coming up with fresh approaches to tackle the challenge and meet set objectives.

Creativity, initiative, and ownership self-appraisal comments

Use these self-appraisal comments to describe the kind of creativity, innovation, and sense of responsibility for your duties that you (plan to) bring to the table.

Strengths and achievements

43. I enjoy new challenges so I am always the first person to raise my hands when a volunteer is needed to supervise a project or work on a new assignment, even if it is tangentially outside of the scope of my regular responsibilities.

44. I am constantly looking for novel ways to approach my work and build upon past successes so I’m quick to adopt the latest trends and developments in my field. I like to experiment and take calculated risks even if others can’t understand or see my vision yet.

45. My strength is that I bring new ideas to the table. Every week, I try to come up with a few ideas to share and brainstorm with the rest of the team. Not all my ideas turn out to be gold but I don’t let that get me down because you find treasure by digging, not by staring at the earth.

Challenges and improvement areas

46. I often have thoughts on how we can grow the company and win more customers. However, I sometimes hesitate to share them because I’m afraid they won’t be good enough.

I want to work on building my confidence and trusting that my opinions are just as valuable as everyone else’s.

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47. I would like to work on overcoming the fear of underperforming when assigned ownership of certain tasks by volunteering to lead or own one new project over the next quarter.

48. I tend to shy away from assuming any managerial or supervisory responsibilities for work tasks. In the coming months, I would like to move away from strictly being a contributor to taking ownership of activities.

Explore: Organizational Culture Examples To Inspire

Dos and Don’ts for writing effective self-appraisal comments

1. Provide specific examples

It’s not enough to say how great you’ve been or how skilled you are at a particular thing. You have to demonstrate how the contributions you’ve made have impacted the company positively.

Describe the efforts you’ve made. Get into details about the challenges you faced and what you managed to accomplish. This will give your managers a good sense of your progress and allow them to accurately measure your performance.

2. Support your statements with facts and figures

Always use hard data to emphasize your achievements and give anyone reading your evaluations a more insightful perspective of your successes.

Keep track of the tangible results that have been generated as a direct or indirect consequence of your performance and actions. Write them down as they happen so you don’t have to rely on memory alone to recall your achievements whenever appraisal season rolls around.

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3. Frame your weaknesses as growth opportunities

Remember that you’re still an employee and you have to avoid painting yourself in too negative a light. Instead of devoting paragraphs to analyzing your weaknesses, try to reframe them as an opportunity for self improvement.

Briefly identify the challenge you’re facing then move on to explaining the steps you’re already taking or actions you plan to take to improve the problem.

4. Be confident, not arrogant

While the goal is to promote yourself, you also don’t want to come off as haughty or conceited. Your evaluation should offer a balanced view of your performance, accomplishments, and limitations.

Remember that you don’t know everything and you are yet to reach the final height you can possibly reach in your role or career. Show that you’re someone who is amenable to learning and improving.

5. Avoid going on the defensive

A self-appraisal is not an excuse for you to air the secret or unflattering views you hold about the people you work with. Don’t seize the opportunity to say bad things about your teammates or managers or blame other people for your failings.

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It’s normal to fall short of expectations now and then. You are not being put on trial for it. Just stay positive, take responsibility for your shortcomings, and express your commitment to addressing them.

Also Read: Inspirational Teamwork Quotes For The Workplace

Conclusion

Self-appraisals offer employees a chance to reflect on their work for the period under consideration to determine what they’re doing well, how far they’ve come, and what skills still need work.

These self-appraisal comments examples will give you an idea of how to approach your next performance review and provide answers that will accurately reflect the great work you’ve been putting in.