Your rating may be decided before the review. Send better evidence before calibration.
A lot of review scores get shaped in a manager calibration meeting before you sit down for your own review. If your manager walks in with vague notes, your best work can get traded down to “met expectations.” Give them clean proof before that room happens.
What to send your manager
- Three outcomes. Pick work that changed time, money, risk, quality, customers, or team load.
- One line of context. Say why the work mattered before you name what you did.
- One proof point. Add the number, quote, shipped link, ticket, customer note, or before-and-after detail.
- One ask. Tell your manager what you want them to carry into calibration.
Copy this note
Hi [Name], I know calibration may happen before our review conversation. I pulled together the three pieces of work I most want represented because they show scope beyond my usual tasks. I’d be grateful if you could use these when my rating and next-step goals are discussed.
Then paste three short bullets in this shape: work, why it mattered, proof.
Example bullet
Renewal handover: I owned the April handover for the renewal accounts after support flagged that updates were spread across DMs. I moved status, owners, and blockers into one tracker. The Friday chase-up dropped from around 40 minutes to around 10, and the support lead used the same tracker for the next two renewals.
If money may come up
Do not wait until the review meeting to write the raise case. Send evidence before calibration, then use a separate salary note after you know the rating or direction.
The £24 Performance Review Prep Kit helps you sort the evidence. The £27 Salary Negotiation Script Pack gives you wording for the raise ask after the review.
Get the £24 prep kitAlready have the evidence? Use the £27 salary script pack after the review.
Related pages
Need manager wording first? Read manager performance review phrases. If the meeting is tomorrow, use the 40 minute review plan.