10 Actionable Performance Review Phrases for Teamwork

Giving effective feedback on teamwork is a common challenge for managers. You need to be specific and fair while encouraging growth. Generic comments often fail to inspire improvement or properly recognize strong contributors. This guide provides a clear framework to address this, offering 10 categories of performance review phrases for teamwork. For each category, you will find positive phrases for top performers, developmental phrases for areas needing improvement, and phrases for employees who meet expectations.

To make your feedback more impactful, we include examples using the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) model. This structure helps you ground your comments in concrete actions and their outcomes. You will also get corresponding SMART goal templates to build clear and actionable development plans. When creating your own phrases, you can look at broader frameworks; explore these insightful examples of performance assessments for a more complete understanding.

These tools are designed to reduce manager stress and help you lead your team with greater confidence. By using structured, specific, and goal-oriented language, you can deliver reviews that are constructive, motivating, and aligned with your team's objectives. This approach ensures your feedback drives meaningful results.

1. Collaborates Effectively with Team Members

Evaluating an employee's ability to collaborate is fundamental to understanding their contribution to team cohesion and productivity. This assessment goes beyond individual tasks. It measures how well they communicate, share knowledge, and support their colleagues to achieve collective goals. Effective collaboration is a cornerstone of high-performing teams, making this one of the most essential performance review phrases for teamwork.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently fosters a cooperative environment by actively listening to and building upon the ideas of others.
• Direct: Proactively shares information and expertise, ensuring all team members are equipped to succeed.

SBI Example: "During the Q3 product launch (Situation), I saw you spend extra time mentoring the new marketing associate to get them up to speed on our campaign strategy (Behavior). This helped the entire team meet its deadline and made our new hire feel supported (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to seek out more opportunities to partner with team members on upcoming projects.
• Direct: Needs to improve communication with colleagues to prevent information silos from forming.

SBI Example: "In the project planning meeting last week (Situation), you worked on your section of the proposal independently without checking in with the design team (Behavior). This caused alignment issues and required last-minute revisions (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve collaboration, volunteer to lead one cross-departmental knowledge-sharing session by the end of the next quarter. You will create a 30-minute presentation on a topic of your expertise and gather feedback from at least five attendees to measure its effectiveness.

2. Takes Ownership of Shared Goals and Deliverables

This phrase assesses an employee's accountability for collective team outcomes, not only individual tasks. It measures commitment to shared success, initiative in problem-solving, and the willingness to contribute beyond assigned duties to achieve team objectives. This quality is fundamental for building high-performing teams, especially in remote settings where autonomy is critical.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently demonstrates a strong sense of responsibility for the team's success.
• Direct: Proactively identifies and resolves blockers that would impact team deliverables without needing to be prompted.

SBI Example: "When we faced unexpected resource limits on the alpha project (Situation), you stepped up to organize the remaining tasks and ensure the timeline stayed on track (Behavior). Your initiative kept the team from falling behind and boosted morale (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to take a more active role in tracking progress toward our shared team goals.
• Direct: Needs to demonstrate greater accountability for team outcomes rather than focusing only on individual assignments.

SBI Example: "During last month's sprint (Situation), a critical bug was reported, but you did not flag it as a team-wide blocker because it was outside your direct responsibilities (Behavior). This caused a two-day delay for the entire team (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve ownership, you will create and maintain a shared document for our next project that tracks all major team-wide milestones and potential risks. You will update it weekly and present a five-minute summary at our team syncs to ensure everyone is aligned on progress toward our collective goals.

3. Communicates Clearly and Respectfully Within the Team

This phrase evaluates the quality and tone of an employee's communication. It applies to formal settings like meetings and informal daily interactions. The assessment considers clarity of expression, active listening, and the ability to disagree respectfully. Clear communication is critical for all teams, especially remote and distributed workforces where written and asynchronous methods are common. Evaluating this skill is key for providing complete performance review phrases for teamwork.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently articulates ideas clearly and respectfully, helping the team stay aligned and work together effectively.
• Direct: Excels at asking clarifying questions that prevent misunderstandings and keep projects moving forward.

SBI Example: "In our asynchronous Slack update channel (Situation), your daily summaries are always concise and clear (Behavior). This keeps everyone informed on your progress without needing a meeting, which improves the whole team's focus (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to pause and confirm understanding in meetings before proceeding with complex action items.
• Direct: Needs to refine written communication to ensure messages are clear and actionable for all recipients. For more ideas, you can review some strategies to improve team communication.

SBI Example: "During the project debate last Tuesday (Situation), your tone came across as dismissive when you disagreed with a colleague's idea (Behavior). This discouraged others from sharing their own perspectives (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve communication clarity, you will review your five most important emails or Slack messages each week before sending them. You will check them for clarity, tone, and a clear call to action. You will ask a trusted peer for feedback on one of these communications per month to ensure your message is received as intended.

4. Supports Colleagues' Development and Success

This phrase assesses an employee's commitment to nurturing their teammates' skills and achievements. It moves beyond simple cooperation to measure how they mentor, share knowledge, and create opportunities for others to grow. Identifying these behaviors is key for building a strong learning culture and spotting future leaders, making it a vital part of any performance review focused on teamwork.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Willingly shares expertise and serves as a go-to mentor for junior members of the team.
• Direct: Actively looks for opportunities to highlight the accomplishments of colleagues and supports their career progression.

SBI Example: "When we adopted the new CRM software (Situation), you created clear training documentation and hosted a lunch-and-learn session for the team (Behavior). This proactive support helped everyone get up to speed quickly and reduced errors (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to share lessons learned from your projects more openly to help others avoid similar setbacks.
• Direct: Needs to invest more time in mentoring colleagues to help build the team's collective skill set.

SBI Example: "During the last project sprint (Situation), you developed a new coding shortcut but did not document or share it with the other engineers (Behavior). This created a missed opportunity for the entire team to improve its efficiency (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To better support colleagues' growth, you will identify one team member to mentor over the next quarter. You will schedule bi-weekly check-ins to provide guidance on a specific skill, document their progress, and present your key learnings to me by the end of Q2.

5. Adapts Approach and Responds to Team Feedback

An employee's ability to receive and act on feedback is a strong indicator of their commitment to team success. This evaluation measures their flexibility and coachability. It assesses how well they adjust their working style based on team needs, accept constructive input without defensiveness, and implement changes that improve overall team dynamics. This trait is essential for agile environments where continuous improvement is the standard.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently shows a willingness to grow by thoughtfully considering and applying feedback from peers.
• Direct: Successfully modifies project approach based on team suggestions, leading to better outcomes.

SBI Example: "After our team retro last month (Situation), you immediately adjusted your communication style to be more concise in our daily standups as requested (Behavior). This has made our meetings more efficient and focused for everyone (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to actively solicit feedback from your teammates on your next major project.
• Direct: Tends to become defensive when receiving critical feedback, which can hinder team progress and open communication.

SBI Example: "During the Q2 campaign review (Situation), you dismissed the design team's suggestions about the ad copy (Behavior). As a result, we had to make significant last-minute changes after the initial client presentation (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve adaptability, you will initiate a feedback session with at least two team members after your next project milestone. You will document the feedback, identify one specific behavior to change, and schedule a follow-up meeting within 30 days to discuss the progress you have made.

6. Resolves Conflicts Constructively and Maintains Harmony

This phrase evaluates an employee's ability to navigate disagreements and interpersonal challenges in a way that strengthens team relationships. It assesses diplomacy, a commitment to collective problem-solving, and professionalism during disagreements. Constructive conflict resolution is a vital skill for maintaining a productive and positive team environment, making this a key area for teamwork-related performance review phrases. Developing strong emotional intelligence is often key to resolving conflicts constructively.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Addresses disagreements with peers in a calm and respectful manner, seeking common ground.
• Direct: Consistently mediates discussions to build consensus and ensure all viewpoints are heard.

SBI Example: "When the design and development teams had different ideas for the user interface (Situation), you facilitated a discussion that helped everyone agree on a path forward (Behavior). Your mediation prevented project delays and improved cross-team relationships (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to express your perspective directly, even when it differs from the group's opinion.
• Direct: Needs to avoid public criticism of colleagues' work and address concerns in a private, one-on-one setting.

SBI Example: "During the team-wide project retrospective (Situation), you appeared disengaged when a topic you disagreed with was being discussed (Behavior). This sent a message that you were not open to alternative approaches, which discouraged others from sharing their ideas (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve conflict resolution, you will complete a conflict management course by the end of this quarter. You will then apply the learned techniques by volunteering to mediate one low-stakes disagreement between team members, with a manager observing to provide feedback on your approach. For additional strategies, learn more about conflict management skills for managers.

7. Celebrates Team Wins and Maintains Positive Team Culture

An employee's impact on team culture is a significant part of their overall contribution. Evaluating how an individual celebrates successes and fosters positivity provides insight into their role in building team morale and psychological safety. This aspect of teamwork is critical for maintaining engagement and resilience, especially during challenging projects or organizational shifts. Recognizing these behaviors with specific performance review phrases for teamwork reinforces their value.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently improves team morale by publicly acknowledging the contributions of others.
• Direct: Actively contributes to a positive team environment by celebrating milestones and making new members feel welcome.

SBI Example: "After we completed the difficult Q2 data migration project (Situation), you organized a team lunch to celebrate and personally thanked each person for their specific contribution (Behavior). This action significantly improved team spirit and made everyone feel their hard work was valued (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to take a more active role in recognizing the achievements of your peers in our team channels.
• Direct: Needs to participate more in team-building activities to help foster a more cohesive and positive group dynamic.

SBI Example: "During our last team meeting (Situation), a major success for a colleague was announced, but you remained quiet and did not offer congratulations (Behavior). This can be perceived as a lack of support and negatively affects our team's celebratory culture (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve your contribution to team culture, you will publicly recognize a colleague's specific contribution in a team meeting or our group chat at least once every two weeks for the next quarter. You will track these instances to build a consistent habit of celebrating team wins.

8. Collaborates Across Departments and Functions

This phrase assesses an employee's capacity to work effectively beyond their immediate team. It measures their ability to build relationships with other departments, understand different priorities, and find solutions that work across organizational silos. In matrixed organizations and on cross-functional projects, this skill is critical for driving broader business goals, making it a key area for performance review phrases on teamwork.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently builds bridges with other teams, fostering a culture of mutual respect and shared purpose.
• Direct: Excels at navigating different departmental needs to achieve outcomes beneficial to the entire organization.

SBI Example: "On the new software integration project (Situation), you initiated several meetings with the finance team to align on budget tracking (Behavior). This proactive communication prevented scope creep and kept the project under budget (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to build stronger connections with your counterparts in the marketing department on our next joint initiative.
• Direct: Needs to improve at considering the priorities and constraints of other functions before finalizing project plans.

SBI Example: "During the Q2 campaign launch (Situation), you submitted your team’s final designs without consulting the engineering team about implementation requirements (Behavior). This led to significant rework and delayed the launch by two weeks (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve cross-functional collaboration, schedule and lead one 30-minute introductory meeting with a key stakeholder from another department by the end of this month. You will prepare a brief agenda to understand their team’s goals and identify one potential area for future collaboration to discuss in our next one-on-one.

9. Contributes Ideas and Participates in Problem-Solving

This area evaluates an employee's intellectual engagement with team challenges. It measures their willingness to offer new ideas, participate in brainstorming, and actively help solve problems. Assessing this contribution shows whether an individual is mentally invested in the team's success or simply completing assigned work. It is a key element of effective teamwork performance review phrases.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Consistently offers creative solutions and builds upon the suggestions of others during team discussions.
• Direct: Proactively identifies potential risks in project plans and suggests practical mitigation strategies.

SBI Example: "During our Q2 brainstorming for the new feature (Situation), you proposed a novel approach to user authentication that no one had considered (Behavior). This idea ended up saving the development team an estimated three weeks of work (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: I encourage you to share your insights more frequently in team meetings, as your perspective is valuable.
• Direct: Needs to move beyond only executing tasks and actively contribute to group problem-solving.

SBI Example: "In the project post-mortem last week (Situation), you remained silent when we asked for ideas to improve our workflow (Behavior). This was a missed opportunity for the team to benefit from your direct experience with the process (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve your active contribution, you will prepare and share at least one well-researched idea or process improvement at each of our next three monthly team meetings. You will track these suggestions in our project management tool and work with a team member to implement one of them by the end of the quarter.

10. Demonstrates Reliability and Follows Through on Commitments to the Team

Assessing an employee's reliability is crucial for understanding their impact on team trust and momentum. This evaluation centers on their consistency in meeting commitments and being a dependable resource for colleagues. When team members can count on each other to follow through, the entire unit functions more effectively, making this a foundational component of teamwork performance review phrases.

Positive Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Your team members have confidence in you because you consistently deliver on your commitments.
• Direct: Follows through on all action items from team meetings, ensuring no tasks are forgotten.

SBI Example: "During the end-of-year reporting cycle (Situation), you volunteered to take on the extra data validation tasks and completed them ahead of schedule (Behavior). This allowed the team to finalize the report two days early and reduced everyone's stress (Impact)."

Developmental Performance Review Phrases

• Supportive: Let's work together on a system to track your commitments so you can proactively communicate any risks to your deadlines.
• Direct: Needs to improve follow-through on promised tasks to avoid delaying team progress.

SBI Example: "For the last two project sprints (Situation), your assigned components were submitted past the deadline without prior notice (Behavior). This created a bottleneck and required other team members to work late to integrate your part (Impact)."

SMART Goal for Development

To improve reliability, you will use a project management tool to track all your assigned tasks and provide a weekly status update to the team lead every Friday by 4 PM. This goal will be maintained for the entire next quarter, with no more than one missed update.

10-Point Teamwork Review Phrase Comparison

Turn Feedback into Action and Build Stronger Teams

You now have a comprehensive toolkit of performance review phrases for teamwork. The real value of these phrases appears when you put them into practice. Moving beyond a simple list of words and into meaningful dialogue is what separates an average manager from a great leader. The phrases provided for collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution are your starting point, not your final script.

The most effective reviews are built on a foundation of specific, observable evidence. Before your next performance discussion, take time to gather concrete examples that align with the phrases you select.

• For positive feedback, note the Situation, Behavior, and Impact (SBI) of an employee’s contribution. For instance, connect their clear communication during the Q3 project kickoff to the team’s quick alignment and reduced rework.
• For developmental feedback, prepare a clear observation of the behavior and its consequences. Follow this with a collaborative discussion about the root cause and a path forward.

Your goal is to foster a culture where feedback is seen as a tool for growth, not a source of anxiety. Using structured phrases helps you maintain objectivity and fairness. When an employee knows exactly what they are doing well and where they need to improve, they feel empowered to take ownership of their development. This clarity builds trust and strengthens your working relationship.

From Assessment to Actionable Growth

Transforming assessment into tangible improvement requires a clear plan. This is where SMART goals become essential. After discussing a developmental area related to teamwork, work with the employee to create a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying “be a better team player,” you can set a goal like: “For the next quarter, volunteer to lead one agenda item in our weekly team sync to improve participation and contribution to team discussions.” This gives the employee a direct, measurable action to focus on.

By consistently applying these principles, you do more than complete a required HR task. You actively build a more cohesive, resilient, and high-performing team. Thoughtful, well-delivered feedback on teamwork cultivates an environment where everyone feels supported, accountable, and invested in collective success. The right performance review phrases for teamwork, when paired with specific examples and clear next steps, are a direct investment in your team’s future.

Preparing for these conversations takes time and mental energy. PeakPerf helps you generate fair, structured, and effective performance review drafts in minutes. Answer guided questions based on proven leadership frameworks, and let the app build a detailed narrative that you can edit and finalize, ensuring you lead every conversation with confidence. Get started for free at PeakPerf and see how you can improve your leadership moments.