Role-Based Guide: Reviews for Managers

As a manager, you play a central role in the performance review process for your direct reports—from ensuring they receive valuable feedback to presenting and sharing results. This guide walks through your responsibilities and the key pages you’ll use during the review cycle.

This article contains the following sections:

• Review Process Overview

• Your Review Responsibilities

• Pages You’ll Use During the Review Cycle
  

---

 

Review Process Overview

Below is an overview of how the performance review process typically unfolds from a manager’s perspective.

1. Data Collection: During this step, self assessments, peer reviews, and upward feedback are collected. This feedback provides the foundation for your evaluation.
2. AI Draft Generation: Once required feedback has been submitted, Zal generates an AI draft of each direct report’s performance appraisal using submitted reviews and additional platform data.
3. Manager Review & Edits: Review the AI-generated draft for each of your direct reports and make edits as needed. Add any missing context and ensure the feedback is clear, balanced, and valuable. Then, submit completed reviews to HR. Learn how to edit and submit an AI-generated review draft→
4. HR Calibration: Once the manager review deadline passes, HR will conduct calibration sessions to ensure feedback is consistent, appropriate, and aligned across the organization. After calibration and approval, you can view finalized reviews and begin preparing for your 1:1 discussions.
5. Hold Final Meetings: Schedule and hold 1:1 meetings with each of your direct reports to discuss results, celebrate strengths, and align on development goals. Learn how to schedule and hold a final review meeting →
6. Share Results: Share finalized reviews with each of your direct reports. Reviews may be shared before, during, or after final meetings, depending on preference. Learn how to share results with your team →
7. Employee Acknowledgment: Employees review and acknowledge their appraisal, completing the review cycle.

---

 

Your Review Responsibilities

Now that you understand how the review process unfolds, let’s focus on the specific tasks you’re responsible for completing. Click a linked task below to access detailed instructions.

• Edit & Submit AI-Generated Reviews: Review the AI-generated draft for each of your direct reports, make edits as needed, and submit finalized reviews to HR for calibration.
  📝 Note: HR may return reviews to you for revisions during calibration. If this happens, you’ll receive both an email and inbox notification.
• Track Progress of Team Reviews: Monitor the status of your team’s reviews to ensure they move from draft to acknowledgment without delays.
• Schedule & Hold Final Meetings: Meet 1:1 with each direct report to discuss performance results, celebrate strengths, and align on development goals.
• Share Results: Publish and share finalized reviews with your team at the appropriate time based on your organization’s preference.

---

 

Pages You’ll Use During the Review Cycle

Throughout the review cycle, you’ll use the following pages to manage your team’s reviews and monitor progress.

• Inbox: Receive notifications about new review tasks and upcoming deadlines.
  To access this page, click the Inbox icon located at the top of your main navigation.
• My Team’s Appraisals: View all performance reviews and review statuses for your direct reports.
  To access this page, click the Reviews icon in your main navigation, then select "My Team's Appraisals."
• My Team’s Profiles: Access individual team member details, including role information.
  To access profiles, click the Profile icon in your main navigation and select "My Team's Profiles."
• My Team’s Feedback: View feedback submitted about your direct reports using Zal's Feedback feature to ensure your evaluations reflect a well-rounded perspective.
  To access feedback, click the Feedback icon in your main navigation, then select "My Team's Feedback."