---
title: "Performance Review Cycles: How They Work"
description: Understand the 5 phases of a performance review cycle in Zal.ai from setup through employee acknowledgment.
---

[Skip to content](https://help.zal.ai/en/zal-help-center/how-performance-review-cycles-work#main-content)

[![zal-logo-purple](https://help.zal.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/zal-logo-purple.png?width=160&height=60&name=zal-logo-purple.png)](https://help.zal.ai/en/zal-help-center?hsLang=en)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Zal.ai Help Center](https://help.zal.ai/?hsLang=en)
2. [Reviews](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en)

# Performance Review Cycles: How They Work

## A complete guide to the review cycle from planning to acknowledgment

In this article, you'll learn how performance review cycles work in Zal.ai—from initial setup through final acknowledgment. Performance review cycles are structured periods where employees receive formal feedback on their work.

**This article is relevant to:** All roles

**Feature:** *Reviews*

## The 5 Phases of a Review Cycle

### Phase 1: Planning & Setup (Admin)

Administrators create and configure the review cycle: set dates, add participants, configure appraisal template, enable surveys, and optionally enable peer nomination.

### Phase 2: Data Collection (Employees & Peers)

Participants complete assigned tasks: peer nominations (if enabled), self assessments, and peer reviews. Continuous data like feedback, meeting notes, and goals is also collected.

### Phase 3: Draft & Manager Review (Managers)

Zal.ai generates AI-powered drafts. Managers review, edit, and submit drafts to HR for calibration. Status: **Draft**

### Phase 4: Calibration & Approval (HR/Admin)

HR reviews submitted appraisals, compares ratings for consistency, and approves or requests changes. Status: **In Review** → **Approved**

### Phase 5: Publish & Acknowledge (Manager + Employee)

Manager publishes the review. Employee views and acknowledges. Status: **Published** → **Acknowledged**

## Tracking Progress

- [Getting Started](https://help.zal.ai/getting-started?hsLang=en)
- [Company Administration](https://help.zal.ai/company-administration?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Manage People](https://help.zal.ai/company-administration?hsLang=en#manage-people)
- [Get Help](https://help.zal.ai/get-help?hsLang=en)
- [Reviews](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Role-Based Guides](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#role-based-guides)
    - [Setup & Configuration](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#setup-configuration)
    - [Track Review Progress](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#track-review-progress)
    - [Nominate Peers](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#nominate-peers)
    - [Write Reviews](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#write-reviews)
    - [Complete Performance Reviews](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#complete-performance-reviews)
    - [Hold Calibration Sessions](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#hold-calibration-sessions)
    - [Share & Acknowledge Results](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#share-acknowledge-results)
    - [Access Results](https://help.zal.ai/reviews?hsLang=en#access-results)
- [Meetings](https://help.zal.ai/meetings?hsLang=en)
- [Inbox](https://help.zal.ai/inbox?hsLang=en)
- [Goals](https://help.zal.ai/goals?hsLang=en)
- [Feedback/Brag Sheet](https://help.zal.ai/feedback-brag-sheet?hsLang=en)
- [What's New?](https://help.zal.ai/whats-new?hsLang=en)

[![zal-logo-purple-1](https://help.zal.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/zal-logo-purple-1.png?width=160&height=60&name=zal-logo-purple-1.png "zal-logo-purple-1")](https://help.zal.ai/?hsLang=en)

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/zal-ai>

Copyright © 2026, Zal.ai