--- title: What NOT to Say When Reviewing Your Team description: Year-end staff reviews are necessary and helpful if done correctly. But watch out for these phrases that can derail the productivity of these conversations image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/What%20not%20to%20say%20when%20reviewing%20your%20team.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/what-not-to-say-when-reviewing-your-team#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Leadership](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/leadership) # What NOT to Say When Reviewing Your Team Year-end staff reviews are necessary and helpful if done correctly. But watch out for these phrases that can derail the productivity of these conversations ![Staff reviews](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/What%20not%20to%20say%20when%20reviewing%20your%20team.png) # Year-End Staff Reviews are Necessary and Helpful if Done Correctly   Can you believe it’s December already?   In many churches, December is all about staff performance reviews, Christmas bonus considerations, and determining next year’s budget (and deciding on the cost of living or pay increases for 2022). Of course, some churches start this process much earlier than December. But if you haven’t, and you’re still crunching to get this year’s ‘required’ staff performance reviews finished up, this may be helpful to you.   Let's be honest, performance reviews may your favorite part of the job. But they are important in making sure everyone is on the same page. Alison Green writes: *"This is the one time of the year when you’re both charged with stepping back and reflecting on how things are going and when you’re supposed to deliver a formal message about how you see the person’s performance and the path ahead."*   That being said, here are three things that you should NOT say when reviewing a staff member's 2022 performance. 1. **Don’t say, “I haven’t had much time to prepare for this.” -** Maybe you didn't have much time to prepare, but let's not make the employee feel less valued by announcing that. 2. **Don’t compare the person to other staff members -** Compare the employee to their job responsibilities, not other people 3. **Don’t focus on personality over results** - Give measurable and specific feedback that can show your staff how they can improve, not just general personality issues   As you enter into 2023, either as a church staff member or a church staff supervisor, we can help you sort out things like performance reviews, salary negotiations, and finding a great new staff person (or new church) for you.  Pop me an email at [Todd.Rhoades@ChemistryStaffing.com](mailto:Todd.Rhoades@ChemistryStaffing.com) to start a conversation!   ![Todd-Signature-2019](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/belch.io/template-assets/Todd-Signature-2019.png?width=124&name=Todd-Signature-2019.png)   [![Schedule A Free Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364)   ### [![Todd Rhoades](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) Todd Rhoades](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/todd-rhoades) Todd has invested over 30 years in serving churches, having served as a worship pastor for over 15 years, a church elder for more than a decade, and in various ministry leadership roles in both the business and non-profit sectors. As the original founder and developer of ChurchStaffing.com, Todd fundamentally changed the way thousands of churches search for pastors and staff on the internet. Todd is a graduate of Cedarville University, and lives in Bryan, OH with his wife, Dawn. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/toddrhoades3) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/toddrhoades) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrhoades/) [![Website Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/web.svg)](http://chemistrystaffing.com/todd-rhoades) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? 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