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AI-Assisted Reviews

Topicflow AI can help draft performance reviews by analyzing goals, feedback, meetings, and work activity. But humans make the final judgments about performance.

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How AI assists with review writing

Topicflow AI can help managers and employees by: Recalling context

• What goals were set and achieved
• What feedback was given and received
• What was discussed in one-on-ones
• What work activity occurred (from integrations)

Drafting review content

• Summarizing accomplishments
• Identifying patterns across feedback
• Suggesting areas for growth based on constructive feedback
• Proposing development goals for the next period

Structuring reviews

• Organizing content into strengths, growth areas, and development plans
• Balancing positive and constructive feedback
• Creating clear, specific language

Saving time

• Reducing the time to gather context
• Speeding up the drafting process
• Allowing more time for thoughtful editing and judgment

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What AI can and cannot do

AI can:

• Recall documented work, goals, feedback, and meetings
• Identify patterns across multiple data sources
• Draft initial review content based on available context
• Suggest structure and phrasing

AI cannot:

• Observe behavior it doesn’t have data for (e.g., undocumented conversations, in-person dynamics)
• Make performance judgments (that’s the human’s role)
• Know personal context (health issues, family situations, team conflicts)
• Replace thoughtful human evaluation

AI is a drafting assistant, not a decision-maker.

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How to use AI for review drafting

For managers writing reviews:

1. Topicflow AI to summarize context:
   • “What were [person]‘s goals this quarter?”
   • “What feedback did [person] receive during the review period?”
   • “What have we discussed in one-on-ones over the last 3 months?”
2. Topicflow AI to draft review sections:
   • “Draft a performance review for [person] based on their Q1 goals and feedback”
   • “Summarize [person]‘s accomplishments this quarter”
   • “What growth areas were mentioned in feedback for [person]?”
3. Review and edit the draft:
   • Verify accuracy
   • Add personal observations
   • Adjust tone and phrasing
   • Make performance judgments
4. Finalize and submit

For employees writing self-reviews:

1. Topicflow AI to recall your work:
   • “What goals did I complete this quarter?”
   • “What feedback did I receive?”
   • “What accomplishments aren’t reflected in my goals?”
   • “What have I been working on based on integration data?”
2. Topicflow AI to draft sections:
   • “Draft a self-review for Q1 based on my goals and feedback”
   • “Summarize my accomplishments this quarter”
3. Edit and personalize:
   • Add context AI doesn’t have
   • Highlight what you’re proud of
   • Reflect on challenges and growth

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Example AI-assisted review workflow

Manager’s task: Write a performance review for Jordan. Step 1: Topicflow AI for context Manager: “What were Jordan’s goals this quarter, and were they achieved?” AI: “Jordan had 3 Q1 goals:

1. Ship the API migration (achieved 2 weeks early)
2. Onboard 2 new engineers (achieved, both completed onboarding)
3. Reduce deployment time to under 10 minutes (not achieved, adjusted scope in March due to platform constraints)”

Step 2: Topicflow AI to draft Manager: “Draft a performance review for Jordan based on their Q1 goals and feedback” AI generates a draft: “Jordan had a strong Q1, achieving 2 of 3 goals and making significant progress on the third. The API migration was completed 2 weeks ahead of schedule with zero downtime, demonstrating excellent planning and execution. Jordan also successfully onboarded 2 new engineers, both of whom ramped up faster than recent hires. The goal to reduce deployment time wasn’t fully achieved due to platform constraints, but Jordan appropriately adjusted scope when priorities shifted. Feedback from peers highlighted Jordan’s collaboration and responsiveness…” Step 3: Manager reviews and edits Manager adds:

• Personal observations from one-on-ones
• Specific examples of leadership
• Constructive feedback about communication
• Development goals for next quarter

Step 4: Manager finalizes and submits The AI draft saved time, but the manager’s edits added judgment, context, and direction.

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When to use AI for reviews

Useful when:

• You’re writing many reviews and need to save time
• You want to ensure you haven’t forgotten accomplishments or feedback
• You’re struggling to organize review content
• You want to draft quickly and then edit thoughtfully

Less useful when:

• The review involves sensitive interpersonal issues
• The person’s work isn’t well-documented in Topicflow
• You need to make nuanced performance judgments AI can’t make

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Best practices

Don’t submit AI drafts unedited Always review, personalize, and edit AI-generated content. Verify accuracy Make sure AI’s references to goals, feedback, and accomplishments are correct. Add human judgment AI can summarize facts, but performance judgments require human insight. Use AI to save time, not replace thought AI speeds up drafting, but thoughtful reviews still require your attention. Combine AI drafts with manual review Read through meetings, goals, and feedback yourself, even if AI summarizes them.

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Privacy and AI access

What AI can access for reviews:

• Goals for people you manage
• Feedback visible to you
• Meeting notes where you’re a participant
• Your private meeting notes (used to inform suggested responses, visible only to you)
• Work activity from integrations (based on permissions)

What AI cannot access:

• Private feedback not visible to you
• Meetings you’re not part of
• Confidential performance data you don’t have access to

AI respects the same visibility and permission rules as the rest of Topicflow.

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What’s next