Self-evaluation examples to inspire your team

Imagine if every team member had a roadmap for their growth—one that highlighted their accomplishments and guided them toward future success. That’s the power of self-evaluation. 

Research shows that self-evaluation makes people feel competent, capable, and in control of their work.  It turns introspection into action, allowing professionals to reflect on their contributions, set meaningful goals, and align their personal development with the organization’s vision.

HR managers can provide clear, relatable self-evaluation examples to help their teams feel confident in assessing their performance—paving the way for a more effective feedback process that drives continuous improvement.

Let’s explore some self-evaluation examples that inspire accountability, leadership, and professional development.

What is a self-evaluation?

Self-evaluations involve team members assessing their work performance. People can highlight their achievements, identify their strengths and weaknesses, set future performance targets, and determine their career path. 

HR leaders assign self-evaluations as part of the performance review process. Effective self-evaluations focus on: 

• Performance: Accomplishments and achievements vs. goals
• Growth: Areas for improvement
• Goals: Future performance targets 
• Start/stop/continue actions: Behaviors to start, stop, and continue doing 
• Job-related skills: Technical skills, physical skills, and other requirements for the role  
• Soft skills: Ability to interact with colleagues, solve problems, and manage work 
• Commitment to the organization’s values: Alignment between the person and the company’s values

Why self-evaluations matter

Self evaluations accelerate people’s professional and personal growth and an organization’s success. HR teams and managers use feedback from self-appraisals to make objective decisions about talent management, succession planning, resource allocation, and training needs. Self-evaluations also help encourage a culture of continuous learning, where people can dedicate time to improving their existing skills and gaining new knowledge. 

Encouraging self-awareness helps people build stronger relationships and shows a dedication to growth, increasing their chances of advancing to leadership roles.

What is the difference between a self-evaluation, self-performance review, self-appraisal, and self-assessment? 

People use the terms self-evaluation, self-performance review, self-appraisal, and self-assessment interchangeably because they’re all part of a performance review. All processes involve team members reflecting on their skills, accomplishments, contributions to the team and organization, challenges, and areas for improvement. The specific choice of words might depend on the formality of the process or the organization’s preferred language.

What to include in a self-evaluation 

A well-rounded self-assessment highlights strengths, acknowledges areas for improvement, and shows a clear plan for future growth. 

Behavior and values 

Your people’s core values and behaviors guide their work ethic. Encourage your people to share what part of the organization’s culture they like the most, such as a business’s commitment to employee development, a collaborative work environment, flexible work opportunities, and more. When your people align with your organization’s values,  they feel more engaged, motivated, and connected to the company’s mission, leading to higher performance and job satisfaction.

Strengths 

During self-assessments, team members should emphasize their strengths and core competencies and how they contribute to the organization’s success.  “Strengths” can cover hard and soft skills. 

Hard skills

Organizations invest 78 percent of their resources in improving their people’s hard skills. Hard skills refer to knowledge and capabilities people use to do their jobs well. For example, when starting an HR career path, entry-level people should know how to enter data, maintain employee records, and set up an onboarding process. 

Soft skills 

Soft skills are interpersonal skills that enable people to interact effectively with their team members, customers, or clients. Research shows that strong soft skills contribute to 85 percent of work success. Soft skills include: 

• Communication
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Leadership
• Time management
• Creativity 
• Problem-solving 
• Adaptability
• Work ethic
• Critical thinking
• Emotional intelligence
• Conflict management 

Improvement areas 

Everyone struggles with different hard and soft skills. Identifying areas for improvement helps them take ownership. HR teams can also use this part of self-performance reviews to develop improvement plans and provide people with the resources needed to succeed. 

Future goals 

After assessing values, strengths, and improvement areas, people can set future goals for the next evaluation period. These can include maintaining current strengths, improving weaknesses, learning new skills, or taking on additional responsibilities. HR teams help their people establish measurable benchmarks to track progress and align individual goals with the organization’s broader objectives. 

Personal self-evaluation examples (with strengths and areas of improvement)

Provide these self-evaluation examples to your team as jumping-off points for their next performance review. 

They can document their self-evaluation in a dedicated section of the performance review form you provide. Let them know if they’ll need to submit their self-evaluations in advance or if they should bring them to their one-on-one meeting to discuss with their managers in person.

Self-evaluation examples for performance

Strengths 

1. I streamlined our data reporting system, which reduced report turnaround time by 20 percent and helped my team make faster decisions. 

2. I exceeded my sales target by 25 percent by improving prospect targeting and maintaining great relationships with current clients which led to upsells. 

3. I completed all my project tasks five days before the expected deadline and even completed extra tasks from my colleagues. 

Areas that need improvement 

1. I occasionally struggle with collaboration. I plan to improve my communication skills by actively seeking feedback from my team and participating in more group discussions next quarter.

2. I have strong relationship management skills with my current customers, but I sometimes find it challenging to connect with new customers during an engagement.

Self-performance review examples for communication and teamwork 

Strengths 

1. I verbally communicate ideas with my team and provide detailed instructions for tasks.

2. I patiently and actively listen when people are speaking. 

3. I update my team daily on my work progress and promptly respond to questions so I’m not a blocker to anyone.

Areas that need improvement 

1. My verbal communication skills are great, but I need to improve my written communication when writing reports and instructions. 

2. I need to take a step back and allow other people to speak so I don’t always dominate conversations.

3. Sometimes, I counter ideas without properly listening. I’ll work on waiting for others to finish their sentences before giving a counter-opinion. 

Conflict resolution and negotiation self-evaluation examples

Strengths 

1. I handle conflict with other people professionally and make sure situations are resolved as soon as possible. 

2. I have a natural affinity for upselling and convincing customers to choose higher subscription plans when signing contracts. 

3. I successfully resolved a large conflict between two team members by helping them reach common ground and creating a solution that satisfied both parties.

Areas that need improvement 

1. As a team lead, I need to work on de-escalating conflict between team members. My goal is to encourage open communication and active listening during disagreements so both parties feel heard and understood. 

2. I need a better approach to managing high-stress negotiations. I plan to develop this skill by studying advanced negotiation techniques and practicing staying calm and solution-focused during tense situations.

3. I struggle with staying assertive during contract negotiations. I’ll work on improving my negotiation skills and preparing thoroughly so I can approach these conversations with greater confidence and clarity. 

Self-evaluation examples focused on KPIs

Strengths 

1. I provided support for customers and addressed feedback promptly, bringing our average customer satisfaction score to 4.8/5—well above the 4.5/5 target.

2. I surpassed the user engagement KPI for the quarter by redesigning the customer onboarding experience, which contributed to a 20 percent increase in user retention.

3. I transitioned my team from waterfall to agile project management strategies, which allowed us to complete one of our projects a week ahead of schedule.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I need to improve my project management skills by learning to prioritize tasks better and allocate resources efficiently. I plan to complete a course on project management software like Trello or Asana within the next quarter to streamline workflows and help my team meet deadlines more effectively.

2. It’s challenging for me to understand some of my tasks, which has led to delays in completing them. To address this, I will participate in a technical training program and schedule regular one-on-one sessions with a mentor to clarify complex tasks, ensuring I complete future projects on time. 

Job knowledge and technical skills self-review examples

Strengths 

1. I improved my web development skills by learning a new programming language.

2. I took a course on using Salesforce to monitor sales pipeline health, allowing me to improve the team’s sales pipeline visibility and find bottlenecks early. 

3. I developed an admin dashboard for the operations team to track order progress on their phones. 

Areas that need improvement 

1. I’m proficient in HTML and Javascript, but my CSS needs to be better so I can build better user interfaces.

2. I need to learn how to use our human resource information system to generate custom reports so I can send requested data points to top management. 

3. While I am excellent at managing projects using Excel, I need to learn how to use a project management tool to monitor progress. 

Self-appraisal samples for emotional intelligence 

Strengths 

1. I have a solid understanding of how my emotions impact my work and interactions with others. Over the past year, I’ve remained calm under pressure and handled challenging situations with a positive attitude. 

2. I make a conscious effort to understand different perspectives during conflicts, allowing me to empathize with people and resolve issues quickly. 

3. My emotional resilience allows me to stay calm and de-escalate when dealing with disgruntled customers.

Areas that need improvement 

1.  I confuse emotional intelligence with logic and apathy sometimes, which can lead to less connection in my interactions. I’m working on finding a better balance between being thoughtful and staying objective. 

2. While I have high emotional resilience, I can be passive-aggressive when things aren’t going my way. 

3. I need to be more understanding and patient with team members who lack strong emotional control and work with them to manage their emotions. 

Reliability self-assessment examples 

Strengths 

1. When working remotely, I’m always available during work hours on Slack so people can reach out to me if they need anything. 

2. I consistently finish my tasks by their deadlines and rarely delay the completion of any project.

3. I’m always punctual to daily meetings, take notes, and share important takeaways with the team.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I occasionally have issues prioritizing tasks and asking for help, which can slow me down. 

2. I need to be more accountable and take ownership of my tasks so my team can trust me to get the job done. 

Self-evaluation examples for working well under pressure

Strengths 

1. My ability to remain calm when working with tight deadlines helps me prioritize properly and meet deadlines without sacrificing quality. 

2. I adapt quickly to fast-paced environments where I need to make quick decisions and manage changing priorities. 

3. I study peak work periods and have proactively built processes that ensure operations go smoothly.

Areas that need improvement 

1. In high-stress situations, it’s hard for me to remain calm and make quick decisions. 

2. I’m working on my ability to remain solution-focused and maintain a positive outlook so I don’t demotivate my team when we have tight deadlines.

Time management and productivity self-review examples 

Strengths 

1. I avoid distractions like using my phone during work hours to maximize my productivity.

2. I use time management techniques like time blocking to stay focused and efficiently complete my daily tasks.

3. I’m excellent at classifying my work based on importance and breaking down tasks into smaller, time-bound processes.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I need to work on setting realistic timelines for completing tasks so I don’t overpromise and underdeliver.

2. I have trouble avoiding distractions and staying focused, which affects my productivity. I plan to use the Pomodoro time management technique to solve this.

3. I’ve been resistant to using productivity and time-tracking tools in the past, but I am planning to use them to stay more organized. 

Problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making self-evaluation examples

Strengths 

1. I have a strong track record of breaking down complex problems into manageable steps. For example, during a recent project involving multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities, I created a step-by-step roadmap that aligned everyone’s goals. 

2. I consistently use data to make informed decisions. Last quarter, I analyzed customer behavior patterns to predict seasonal demand for our products. By adjusting our inventory orders based on this analysis, we reduced stock shortages by 15 percent and increased sales during peak periods by 10 percent.

Areas that need improvement 

1. While I excel at short-term decision-making, I need to work on my ability to make data-driven long-term decisions.

2. Although I’m quite good at solving routine problems, I want to improve my creative thinking to come up with solutions outside the box.

Self-appraisal examples for innovation and creativity 

Strengths 

1. I introduced an AI-powered coding tool to the engineering team, which supercharged their processes and helped them complete tasks faster. 

2. My innovative marketing strategy resulted in a 30 percent rise in our social media interaction.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I generate a lot of creative ideas, but I sometimes struggle to turn them into actionable plans. To improve this, I’ll focus on aligning my ideas with the team’s capabilities, ensuring smoother implementation by working closely with the relevant departments from the start.

2. While I often follow established methods, I want to push myself to think beyond conventional strategies. I’m going to set aside time to explore new trends and experiment with out-of-the-box approaches, aiming to develop more innovative solutions that directly impact our team’s objectives.

Leadership self-assessment examples 

Strengths 

1. I support and motivate my team to do their best work by providing clear directions, mentoring, and assisting them where needed.

2. My leadership and guidance improved my team’s performance by 20 percent compared to the last quarter.

3. I successfully led a cross-functional team on a project with a tight deadline, ensuring project completion on time and within budget.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I’ll work on trusting my team more and delegating tasks to empower my people and reduce my workload. 

2. While I’m great at supporting and motivating my team, I want to regularly give feedback to improve their performance.

3. I find it hard to plan for the long term, which affects my ability to guide the team through broader objectives.

Self-evaluation examples for professional development and growth 

Strengths 

1. I meet quarterly with top professionals in my field and use their expertise to improve the quality of my work.

2. I recently attended an HR training program and implemented the strategies I learned to support my team. 

3. I completed a certification in negotiation and deal closing and applied what I learned during calls with clients, increasing my sales by 5 percent.

Areas that need improvement 

1. While I dedicate my time to taking professional courses, it’s hard to apply them practically.

2. I need to build a habit of continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends. 

Self-performance review examples on core values and company culture 

Strengths 

1. I consistently demonstrate commitment to the organization’s core values and culture.

2. I support our culture of innovation and creativity by encouraging other people to explore new ideas. 

3. I embrace the company culture of continuous learning by regularly seeking learning and development opportunities.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I struggle to balance the company’s culture of continuous learning with my workload.

2. I understand that 100 percent customer satisfaction is a core value, but I occasionally have trouble dealing with difficult clients.

Adaptability and resilience self-assessment examples 

Strengths 

1. I maintain a positive attitude when dealing with unexpected challenges, which inspires others to stay motivated.

2. I effectively managed sudden changes in the direction of our project plan, ensuring my team understood the need to change direction.

3. I have strong stress management skills so I can adapt to peak work periods in the organization.

Areas that need improvement 

1. It can be hard for me to adapt to changes in project scope, especially when they occur close to the deadline.

2. I realize my frustration during sudden changes in plans can impact team morale. Moving forward, I will work on communicating more calmly and constructively, even in high-pressure situations, to ensure I continue supporting and motivating my team.

Work ethic self-performance review examples

Strengths 

1. I take full ownership of my responsibilities and tasks to consistently meet deadlines.

2. I continuously seek ways to improve the quality of my work. 

3. I make it a habit to arrive at work on time, attend morning standup on time, and be punctual to customer meetings. 

Areas that need improvement 

1. I want to seek feedback from my manager on how to increase my output.  

2. I need to balance my work ethic with my personal life to avoid burnout.

Self-appraisal examples for accomplishments and achievements 

Strengths 

1. I played a key role in building motivation and engagement by maintaining a positive and transparent work environment for my team.

2. I actively contributed to the organization’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by organizing and leading a free training workshop for young professionals.

3. I improved the reporting system for top management by learning how to build custom sales reports with our customer relationship management (CRM).

Areas that need improvement 

1. I have a habit of second-guessing my ideas which affects how much I can accomplish.

2. While I excel in building team engagement, I could improve how I handle performance evaluations. I often delay feedback sessions, which can affect team member development. I will work on providing more timely and constructive feedback to help my team grow and stay motivated.

Customer experience and satisfaction self-evaluation examples

Strengths 

1. I increased customer satisfaction by 30 percent by implementing a better process for handling disgruntled customers.

2. I respond promptly to client’s requests and help them solve issues quickly, which has improved client retention by 10 percent.

3. My service rating is 4.8/5, indicating great customer satisfaction with how I’ve handled their requests.

Areas that need improvement 

1. I want to improve my follow-up process to ensure customers are fully satisfied with my service. 

2. While I’m great at resolving issues, it’s hard for me to prioritize multiple requests at once.

Provide regular self-evaluation opportunities for your team

Making self-appraisals a regular part of performance reviews promotes a culture of continuous learning and development. When team members engage in self-reflection, they build self-awareness, recognize their strengths, and identify growth opportunities. 

This proactive approach allows people to take responsibility for their career development, ensures their personal goals align with the company’s objectives, and helps build a positive, supportive work environment that boosts engagement and retention. 

Self-evaluation FAQs

How do you write a good self-evaluation review?

You can start by listing your positive qualities, including the soft and hard skills you’re excellent at and how they’ve contributed to your accomplishments in the organization. Make sure to emphasize accomplishments using hard facts and figures. For example, “I closed deals worth $20,000, which is 20 percent higher than my sales target.” 

Then, acknowledge your weaknesses or mistakes. Explain what you’ve learned from them and the measures you’re taking to avoid those issues in the future, like registering for a training program or taking a course. Conclude your self-evaluation review with your future goals and voice your ambitions so the organization knows your career progression path and can help you achieve it. 

What is an example of positive self-evaluation?

Positive self-appraisals focus on your strengths or aspects you enjoy about your job. Here are three great examples of positive self-appraisals for specific skills:

• Communication: “I have excellent communication skills. I keep my team members and managers in the loop with my progress, especially when working remotely.” 
• Adaptability: “I handle unexpected challenges and changes in our project roadmap with a positive attitude.”
• Leadership: “I actively seek leadership responsibilities and volunteer to lead my team on projects that have all been completed on time.”

What is a sample sentence for self-evaluation?

A self-evaluation sentence can be positive or negative. 

A positive self-evaluation may say, “I completed my task deadlines ahead of schedule and took the initiative to pick up extra work, allowing the team to complete the project faster.” 

A negative self-evaluation might say, “I struggled with answering counter questions from prospects because I don’t have enough technical product knowledge.”

What shouldn’t you say in a self-evaluation?

Avoid being over-critical, blaming others, or exaggerating skills and achievements. For example, instead of saying, “The team lacked the skills to meet deadlines,” focus on how you contributed to the project and the steps in place to improve outcomes.  

How do you write a goal for a performance review?

You can write a goal for a performance review using the SMART model. Goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. 

Compare “I want to learn how to use Excel for data analysis” to: “In the next quarter, I’ll master Excel data analysis by completing an online course on and practicing with 20 datasets. I will dedicate 3 hours per week. By week 5, I’ll know key Excel functions like VLOOKUP and PivotTables. By week 10, I’ll know how to use data visualization tools in Excel.” This SMART goal provides guidance and identifies what KPIs to track to measure success.