Performance Reviews: Overview

Performance Reviews in 15Five is a structured tool for creating, running, and analyzing employee review cycles. Admins configure cycles, question templates, and rating systems. Managers and employees write and submit reviews within defined timelines. HR and executive users access results, calibrations, and reporting.

Note: Your organization may have renamed this feature. If you don't see "Best-Self Review®" in your navigation, check with your admin for the name used in your account.

Key Rules

  • Only admins can create, launch, edit, or delete review cycles and question templates.
  • Managers can view and act on results only for their direct reports, unless additional manager or review viewer access is granted.
  • Review results are not visible to participants until an admin or manager explicitly shares and finalizes them.
  • Calibration sessions must be configured before a cycle launches; they cannot be added to an already-active cycle.
  • Exported review data and downloads are role-restricted — available report types differ for admins, managers, and HR users.

Start here by role

Admin

Manager

Employee

In This Section

Configure and use performance ratings and rubrics (Admin)

Show 9 articles

Configure review cycle notifications (Admin)

Show 2 articles

Create and manage question templates (Admin)

Show 13 articles

Create and manage saved report filters (Admin / Manager)

Show 1 article

Download and export review cycle results

Show 1 article

Download and export review cycle results (Admin / HR)

Show 19 articles

Import and manage external performance data (Admin)

Show 3 articles

Manage a review cycle in progress (Admin)

Show 25 articles

Manage calibration sessions (Admin / HR)

Show 8 articles

Manage peer nominations during a review cycle (Admin / Manager)

Show 8 articles

Set up and launch a review cycle (Admin)

Show 19 articles

Set up and run a manager effectiveness review cycle (Admin)

Show 6 articles

Understand roles and expectations in a review cycle

Show 11 articles

View and act on review results (HR / Exec / Manager)

Show 17 articles

Write and submit reviews (Manager / Employee)

Show 23 articles
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