Free, no sign-up to start: the plan opens as a live, editable Gantt chart. 11 tasks across 4 phases, about 9 weeks if every task runs in sequence.
What's in the template
Cycle timeline and forms
Manager briefing
Employee announcement
Self-reviews
Peer feedback
Manager reviews
Calibration meetings
Compensation recommendations
Review conversations
Goal setting for next period
Cycle closeout and survey
| Phase | Task | Example duration |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | Cycle timeline and forms | 5 days |
| Prepare | Manager briefing | 1 day |
| Prepare | Employee announcement | 1 day |
| Write | Self-reviews | 7 days |
| Write | Peer feedback | 7 days |
| Write | Manager reviews | 10 days |
| Calibrate | Calibration meetings | 5 days |
| Calibrate | Compensation recommendations | 5 days |
| Close | Review conversations | 10 days |
| Close | Goal setting for next period | 7 days |
| Close | Cycle closeout and survey | 3 days |
Durations are examples to replace with your own estimates, not benchmarks.
About this performance review cycle
A review cycle runs on deadlines that depend on each other: managers can't write reviews before self-reviews are in, and conversations shouldn't happen before calibration. This plan lays out that chain so HR can publish dates everyone can see.
Change any duration and the later steps move. It suits annual or half-year cycles.
Who it's for: HR teams, people operations leads and managers running review cycles.
How to use it
- Open the plan. Click Open in the editor. The tasks load as a live Gantt chart without signing in.
- Fit your company. Delete peer feedback or compensation rows if your cycle doesn't include them.
- Publish dates. Send the read-only link to all managers so deadlines are clear.
- Reuse it next cycle. When the next cycle comes round, move the start date; every deadline after it moves too.
Planning tips
- Brief managers before the cycle opens.
- Hold calibration before any review conversation.
- Ask for feedback on the process at closeout.
Frequently asked questions
- What is calibration?
- A meeting where managers compare their assessments across teams so similar performance is judged consistently.
- How long does a review cycle take?
- This example runs about two months from launch to closeout.
- Is it free?
- Yes. Opening and editing the template is free, and a free account saves one project. Downloading the chart as PDF or CSV needs Solo.
Related templates
The free plan saves one project. Downloads (PDF, CSV) and more projects are on Solo, $12/month.