Provide engineering managers with frameworks for effective performance management, goal-setting, OKRs, reviews, and continuous feedback.
Primary Bond
Agent: hiring-performance-agent
Relationship: This skill provides review templates, OKR frameworks, and feedback models that the agent uses.
Templates
OKR Template
okr_template:metadata:owner:"{Name}"quarter:"{Q1 2025}"created:"{Date}"last_reviewed:"{Date}"objective:statement:"{Qualitative, inspirational goal}"why:"{Why this matters to team/company}"key_results:kr1:metric:"{Specific measurable outcome}"baseline:"{Where we are today}"target:"{Where we want to be}"current:nullconfidence:"70%"initiatives:-"{Action to achieve this}"kr2:metric:"{Another measurable outcome}"baseline:"{Current state}"target:"{Target state}"current:nullconfidence:"70%"kr3:
metric:
"{Third measurable outcome}"
baseline:
"{Current}"
target:
"{Target}"
current:
null
confidence:
"70%"
scoring:
"0.0-0.3":
"Failed to make progress"
"0.4-0.6":
"Made progress but fell short"
"0.7-0.9":
"Delivered (target zone)"
"1.0":
"Fully achieved (might not have been ambitious enough)"
review_cadence:
weekly:
"Quick progress check"
monthly:
"Deep review, adjust if needed"
quarterly:
"Final scoring and retrospective"
Performance Review Template
performance_review:metadata:employee:"{Name}"level:"{Current level}"manager:"{Manager name}"review_period:"{Date range}"review_date:"{Date}"overall_rating:scale:"[1-5]"rating:nullsummary:""rating_definitions:5:"Exceptional - Top 5%, role model, exceptional impact"4:"Exceeds - Frequently exceeds expectations"3:"Meets - Consistently meets expectations"2:"Developing - Partially meets, improving"1:"Below - Does not meet, action needed"goal_review:goal_1:description:"{Goal from last review}"target:"{What success looked like}"result:"{What was achieved}"rating:nulllearning:""goal_2:description:""target:""result:""rating:nullcompetency_assessment:technical_excellence:rating:nullstrengths: []
growth_areas: []
evidence:""collaboration:rating:nullstrengths: []
growth_areas: []
evidence:""communication:rating:nullstrengths: []
growth_areas: []
evidence:""ownership:rating:nullstrengths: []
growth_areas: []
evidence:""impact:rating:nullstrengths: []
growth_areas: []
evidence:""peer_feedback_summary:themes: []
quotes: []
development_plan:strengths_to_leverage: []
focus_areas:-area:""action:""timeline:""success_metric:""support_needed: []
resources: []
next_period_goals:goal_1:description:""success_criteria:""alignment:""career_discussion:aspirations:""timeline_to_next_level:""gaps_to_address: []
Continuous Feedback (SBI Model)
sbi_feedback:model:situation:"In {specific context/meeting/moment}..."behavior:"I observed/noticed {specific observable behavior}..."impact:"The impact was {effect on team/project/individual}..."examples:positive:situation:"In yesterday's design review"behavior:"you asked probing questions that helped us identify a critical edge case"impact:"which likely saved us a week of rework and improved the design"constructive:situation:"In the last sprint planning"behavior:"you committed to more story points than you could complete"impact:"which meant the team had to scramble to cover, affecting our sprint goal"best_practices:-"Be specific (not 'you're doing great' but 'your documentation was thorough')"-"Be timely (within 48 hours of the event)"-"Focus on behavior (not personality)"-"Be balanced (both positive and constructive)"-"Make it a conversation (not a lecture)"
Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
performance_improvement_plan:metadata:employee:"{Name}"manager:"{Name}"hr_partner:"{Name}"start_date:"{Date}"end_date:"{Date}"duration:"{30/60/90 days}"performance_concerns:concern_1:area:"{Specific area of concern}"examples:-"{Specific instance with date}"-"{Another specific instance}"expected_standard:"{What 'good' looks like}"concern_2:area:""examples: []
expected_standard:""improvement_goals:goal_1:description:"{Specific, measurable improvement}"success_criteria:"{How we'll know it's achieved}"timeline:"{When by}"support_provided:"{Training, mentoring, etc.}"goal_2:description:""success_criteria:""timeline:""support_provided:""check_in_schedule:-date:"{Week 1}"focus:"{Initial check-in}"-date:"{Week 2}"focus:"{Progress review}"-date:"{Midpoint}"focus:"{Formal midpoint review}"-date:"{Final}"focus:"{Final evaluation}"outcomes:successful:"Return to good standing, continue employment"unsuccessful:"Separation from company"acknowledgement:employee_signature:""manager_signature:""date:""
Decision Trees
Rating Calibration
Individual assessment complete
|
+-- Compare to level expectations
| +-- Exceeds level consistently? -> Consider 4 or 5
| +-- Meets level consistently? -> 3
| +-- Below level? -> 2 or below
|
+-- Compare to peers at same level
| +-- Top quartile? -> Lean toward 4+
| +-- Middle half? -> Likely 3
| +-- Bottom quartile? -> Likely 2 or below
|
+-- Review evidence quality
| +-- Specific examples documented? -> Trust rating
| +-- Vague or missing? -> Reconsider, gather more
|
+-- Final calibration with peers
+-- Adjust for consistency across org
When to Start PIP
Performance concern identified
|
+-- Is this a new issue?
| +-- Yes -> Give feedback, set expectations, monitor
| +-- No -> Continue
|
+-- Has feedback been given previously?
| +-- No -> Give clear feedback first, document
| +-- Yes -> Continue
|
+-- Has there been time to improve (4-8 weeks)?
| +-- No -> Allow time, provide support
| +-- Yes -> Continue
|
+-- Is there a pattern of underperformance?
| +-- No -> May be temporary, continue coaching
| +-- Yes -> Consider PIP
|
+-- Is the issue coachable?
+-- Yes -> Start PIP with clear goals
+-- No -> May need immediate action (HR consult)
Anti-Patterns
anti_patterns:recency_bias:symptom:"Only remembering last month of performance"remedy:-"Keep running notes throughout period"-"Review goals quarterly"-"Collect feedback continuously"rating_inflation:symptom:"Everyone is 'exceeds expectations'"remedy:-"Calibration sessions"-"Distribution guidelines"-"Manager training"surprise_reviews:symptom:"First time hearing about issues at review"remedy:-"Continuous feedback culture"-"Monthly check-ins on goals"-"No surprises rule"personality_focus:symptom:"Rating the person, not the work"remedy:-"Evidence-based reviews"-"Specific examples required"-"Behavior focus"
Quick Reference Cards
Goal-Setting (SMART)
S - Specific: Clear and well-defined
M - Measurable: Quantifiable outcomes
A - Achievable: Realistic but challenging
R - Relevant: Aligned with team/company goals
T - Time-bound: Clear deadline
Example:
Bad: "Improve code quality"
Good: "Reduce production incidents by 30% in Q2
by implementing automated testing for
critical paths, measured by PagerDuty data"