Talent Review Discussion Template

Process Guidelines

Using the completed Talent Review Preparation Worksheet, each executive team member talks about each direct and indirect report and solicits candid feedback and input from the group on the person being reviewed.

Step One:  Executive team members should take no more than 10 minutes to present each direct/indirect report, covering the following items:

  • Name and title
  • Time in current position
  • Experience highlights and educational background and certifications (if appropriate)
  • Summary of strengths and development needs (including observation of those at work)
  • 9-box placement (highlight goal accomplishment and business results to date)
  • Talent category (high potential, potential leadership, steady contributor, marginal contributor, unable to assess)
  • One or two potential next steps depending on talent category (e.g., project team assignments, job shadowing, move to new role, performance improvement plan)

Step Two: Following the initial overview/briefing, other executive team members provide feedback and additional comments. The presenter should remain open to feedback, avoid defensiveness and listen attentively to the feedback without comment. Once feedback is provided, clarification questions are asked of the presenter.

Step Three: The executive team members reach consensus regarding the final talent category.  If consensus cannot be reached, the placement decision is made by the presenting executive team member. 

Discussion Script

The first/next/last person I will be discussing is  (Name/Title).  S/He has been in this position for (Years or Months).

S/He has _____years of experience in ___________________ and ______________________ including a background in ____________________________.  Her education and certifications that are applicable are _______________________________.


Name’s strengths and areas for development are ___________________________.  I’ve observed these in the following specific examples___________________________________.


Name has achieved the _________________goals (performance and development) that have been part of his/her plan over the past six/twelve months.  OR Name has accomplished the following business results over the past several months: _____________________________________________________.


I gave him/her a X (one to nine) placement on the 9-box exercise based on  _______________________________________.


I designated him/her as a (high potential, potential leadership, steady contributor, marginal contributor, unable to assess) because _______________________________________ (highlight potential in addition to performance results just listed).


One or two potential development steps for Name might include:  __________________________________________________________.
 

What other information would be helpful for you to better understand the potential/performance of Name?

 

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