Project Manager Performance Review Guide (With Examples)

Project managers are the driving force behind every project.

They play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution and delivery of a project. Project managers also handle various tasks, from organizing resources and setting deadlines to managing budgets.

From time to time, it is crucial to commend your project managers for carrying out their tasks perfectly. On the other hand, it is also important to bring to their attention areas that need improvement. The performance review for project manager example below will guide you in assessing the performance of your project managers. 

Organizations must periodically review the performance of their employees—project managers inclusive, to ensure they are meeting expectations and driving results. A performance review acknowledges hard-work, and points out areas for improvement. It also allows your project managers to reflect on their work and set goals for the future.

This article explores practical examples of performance reviews for your project managers.

What Is A Performance Review?

A performance review assesses an employee’s job performance over time. During this process, supervisors assess an individual’s overall job performance and provide feedback on the person’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas that need improvement. 

Companies use performance reviews to gauge the effectiveness of their employee’s work and ensure they’re working towards achieving set goals. The process also allows managers to commend employees for their work and set new future goals. Performance review improves employee morale and helps maintain productivity and motivation through the process’s nature and the recognition it provides to employees. 

Performance Review for Project Manager Example

Following an assessment of the project manager’s performance, it’s crucial to provide feedback to them. This will ensure that they continually improve their abilities and the company’s performance. It can also significantly boost the employee’s motivation and productivity. 

Ensure you commend the employee for their hard work and past accomplishments. Do this before offering constructive criticisms, if necessary. A bad review can demoralize good employees who work hard and deliver results.

Consider the following examples as you craft your employee reviews.

Project Managers that exceeded expectations

• “Ability to deliver successful projects is impressive.”
• “Has a track record of delivering projects that exceed goals and targets.”
• “Consistently deliver projects that are of the highest quality.”
• “A highly capable leader, produced impressive results with an innovative approach and creative strategies.”
• “Consistently delivers results that exceed expectations. Possesses great critical thinking abilities to identify opportunities for improvement and expansion.”
• “Has a talent for consistently delivering successful projects.”
• “Consistently exceed expectations in terms of both quality and results.”
• “Has a gift for consistently delivering projects that exceed expectations. Meticulously organized yet open to creative solutions.”
• “Delivers projects that exceed all expectations.”
• “Constantly seeks new ways to improve operations and foster collaboration among team members.” 

Project Managers that meet the expectation

• “Meets expectations by consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.”
• “Maintains good communication with team members and stakeholders.”
• “Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills.”
• “Handles conflict effectively and works towards resolutions in a timely manner.”
• “Shows a strong understanding of project management methodologies and processes.”
• “Provides clear direction and guidance to team members.”
• “Demonstrates a willingness to learn and improve upon existing skills.”
• “Manages team resources effectively and efficiently.”
• “Consistently meets project milestones and deadlines.”
• “Maintains accurate and up-to-date project documentation.”
• “Provides regular progress updates to stakeholders and management.”
• “Effectively manages scope and minimizes scope creep.”
• “Identifies and communicates potential risks to the project in a timely manner.”
• “Develops and maintains positive relationships with clients and stakeholders.”
• “Demonstrates strong leadership skills and inspires team members to perform at their best.”
• “Regularly addressed customer concerns swiftly and effectively.”
• “Proved himself to be an invaluable asset to the team, by exhibiting relevant skills needed for success.”
• “Always one step ahead of the game, foreseeing potential issues before they arise to ruin the project.”

Project managers that need improvement

• “Fails to deliver projects on time and within budget.”
• “Lacks effective communication with team members and stakeholders.”
• “Demonstrates weak problem-solving skills.”
• “Does not handle conflict effectively and avoids resolving issues.”
• “Lacks understanding of project management methodologies and processes.”
• “Provides unclear direction and guidance to team members.”
• “Demonstrates a lack of willingness to learn and improve upon existing skills.”
• “Does not effectively manage team resources.”
• “Consistently misses project milestones and deadlines.”
• “Does not maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation.”
• “Fails to provide regular progress updates to stakeholders and management.”
• “Does not effectively manage scope and allows scope creep to occur.”
• “Fails to identify and communicate potential risks to the project promptly.”
• “Does not develop and maintain positive relationships with clients and stakeholders.”
• “Lacks strong leadership skills and fails to inspire team members to perform at their best.”
• “Does not demonstrate a sufficient capability to complete tasks with consistency adequately.”
• “Fails to effectively utilize available resources, which caused several project delays and excessive budgeting.”

Wrapping Up

Employees need to receive feedback and be updated on their performance regularly. For project managers, who are crucial for the overall success of any project, a performance review is much needed. Without a review of their performance, you leave your project managers with no choice but to assume they’re doing a good job. 

Note that a performance review isn’t a compilation of all your project manager’s faults and wrongdoings. Instead, it serves as an effective way to measure the performance of your project manager against the expectations that you had. Commend them for a well-done job, and then draw their attention to areas they need to improve. Always be honest and transparent with your performance reviews.

The performance review for project manager example above will guide you in writing a brilliant review!