Writing Meaningful Comments
When assessment conversations are substantiated with evidence-based rating systems and meaningful comments and feedback, they improve
performance and push us to get the types of results we seek. And better results mean we can have a more positive impact on UNICEF’s goal of helping
women and children around the world. The comments and feedback we share with each other are, in many ways, more important than the ratings
themselves. They provide direct input and commentary on our actions behaviours, and unique contribution to results. That’s why it’s important for these
comments to be meaningful, by being specific and providing evidence.
Below are four examples of generic comments and ways they can be made more meaningful:
Not Meaningful Meaningful
Example: “I am a great team player, and people enjoy working with me.” Example: Given the new two colleagues joining our team, I proactively
prepared an orientation package for them that could complement the
A more meaningful comment would have summarized what the staff standard HR orientation. This included a summary of links to the most
member did and what was achieved as well as provided proof of success - important intranet information, an informal coffee with the other section
for example, the amount of work done, deadlines achieved, feedback by colleagues, and a “who is who” chart of people they could contact both
others or impact of work. within the office and at the regional level for key consultations. Our
supervisor reviewed the package and gave very positive feedback.
Likewise, the new colleagues felt welcomed and grateful that they could
approach the right people. Now, the package is being standardized by the
other sections when new staff come to our office.
Not Meaningful Meaningful
Example: “I am a strong organizer, and I take action to improve existing Example: Noting comments reported in meetings at the beginning of the
processes.” year, I took the initiative and designed a new shared drive with the most
updated information by priority area and made sure that I updated it on a
A more meaningful comment would have named projects, referred to
weekly basis throughout the year. Thanks to this, all unit members could
deliverables and competencies and included data from throughout the year.
quickly access key files for their reporting to country offices. I received
written congratulations from the Chief of the Unit.
Writing Meaningful Comments (cont.)
Not Meaningful Meaningful
Example: “Even when things in the office were difficult, I always got the job Example: I was able to accelerate the deployment of five staff to respond
done.” to the office emergency situation. To do this, I quickly coordinated the
logistics of the interviews and was able to complete the on-boarding
A more meaningful comment would have summarized what the staff
process of the selected colleagues one week before the expected
member did and what was achieved. deadline.
Not Meaningful Meaningful
Example: “Thanks to the effort of the team, we were able to submit all Example: Given a tight deadline, I decided to set a meeting and
deliverables on time as expected by the government counterpart.” temporarily re-assigned tasks to the team so that each person could
concentrate on clear deliverables. Then, I provided support to one team
A more meaningful comment would have detailed the staff member’s
member who was less familiar with the government context. Thanks to
specific contribution to the success. this approach, I could review each draft paper, and we delivered all
documents on time to government counterparts. The team expressed
how this approach had reduced stress and had created a positive team
spirit.
Practice: Pick one of the generic comments above and make it meaningful using a real example of your performance this year. Think about what you did
and write down a few sentences that provide evidence of your performance.
Tip: Look at your own PERs from past years and identify any generic comments. Based on what you have learned, determine how you can make them
more meaningful.
