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PERFORMANCE-REVIEWS5 MIN READ

Separate Achievement From Potential

Distinguish current-period performance evidence from future potential in review language.

The reframe: a promotion signal is not a substitute for a performance rationale. Current Performance Uses Current Evidence Stay inside the review period. Use goals, standards, outcomes, behavior patterns, and context that were visible during the cycle. Potential Uses Next-Scope Evidence Potential is about readiness for a harder operating environment: more ambiguity, larger decisions, broader influence, or higher consequences. Name the next proof point instead of smuggling it into the rating. Calibration Keeps the Boundary Honest When managers mix achievement and potential, rating standards drift. A calibrated review can celebrate strong performance while still being precise about the next bar.

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