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204 Words To Describe Performance

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Performance is the value created by an individual or team in a period of time. Performance is typically described using past tense verbs that describe the work that has been done and nouns that describe what was been produced. In this context, adjectives often feel flowery and lacking in content. For example, "great work" is relatively meaningless. The following vocabulary may be useful in describing performance.

Positive Performance

Verbs that can be used to describe positive performance.
Acted
Adapted
Addressed
Adjusted
Administered
Advocated
Allocated
Analyzed
Answered
Architected
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Attained
Audited
Authored
Balanced
Began
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Chaired
Closed
Coached
Coded
Collaborated
Combined
Communicated
Compiled
Composed
Computed
Conceptualized
Conducted
Conserved
Consulted
Controlled
Converted
Convinced
Coordinated
Corrected
Counseled
Created
Customized
Decided
Defined
Demonstrated
Designed
Determined
Developed
Directed
Displayed
Distributed
Drafted
Drew
Eliminated
Ensured
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Executed
Expedited
Experimented
Explained
Explored
Facilitated
Filed
Forecasted
Formulated
Furthered
Generated
Governed
Guided
Handled
Hired
Hosted
Improved
Incorporated
Increased
Individualized
Influenced
Informed
Initiated
Instituted
Instructed
Interpreted
Intervened
Interviewed
Invented
Involved
Led
Listened
Located
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Measured
Mediated
Mentored
Merged
Mitigated
Modeled
Monitored
Motivated
Navigated
Negotiated
Operated
Optimized
Originated
Outlined
Overhauled
Oversaw
Performed
Persuaded
Planned
Prepared
Presented
Presided
Prevented
Prioritized
Processed
Produced
Projected
Promoted
Proposed
Publicized
Recommended
Reconciled
Recorded
Recruited
Rectified
Reduced
Regulated
Reinforced
Remodeled
Repaired
Replaced
Reported
Represented
Researched
Reshaped
Resolved
Responded
Retrieved
Reviewed
Revised
Routed
Scheduled
Secured
Selected
Simulated
Solved
Spoke
Standardized
Stimulated
Streamlined
Strengthened
Studied
Submitted
Supervised
Supplied
Systematized
Tested
Transformed
Updated
Utilized
Validated
Wrote

Negative Performance

Verbs that can be used to describe negative performance or outcomes.
Broke
Confused
Damaged
Disappointed
Disregarded
Eroded
Failed
Fell Short
Forgot
Ignored
Lacked
Lost
Miscommunicated
Misdirected
Mismanaged
Missed
Misunderstood
Neglected
Overlooked
Upset
Wasted

Adverbs

In some cases, adverbs are used to modify the verb in a description of performance. These are used to highlight the positive or negative impact of an action.
Always
Carefully
Certainly
Clearly
Completely
Consistently
Continually
Directly
Effectively
Efficiently
Enthusiastically
Frequently
Immediately
Quickly
Regularly
Totally

Active vs Passive

Positive performance is described with active voice whereby the individual is the doer of the verb. For example:
Developed and deployed a revenue management system.
Negative performance can be described with passive voice whereby things happen without direct action by the individual. This is used because it is less accusatory.
Budget was exceeded and deadlines were missed.

Summary

The following are common categories of verbs that are used to describe performance such as verbs for management, creative work and achievements.
Next: Employee Performance
More about employee performance:
Adaptive Performance
Business Performance
Employee Feedback
Employee Issues
Employee Outcomes
Expectations
Feedback
Goals
High Performance
Improvement
Improvement Plan
Improvement Process
Leave
Objectives
Performance Appraisals
Performance Issues
Professional Improvement
SMART
Work Achievements
Work Attitude
Work Improvement
Working Style
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