How to get the most from your performance review (and why timing matters)
The best time to have your performance review is during your ovulatory phase (days 12-16 of your cycle) when estrogen and testosterone peak, boosting your confidence and communication skills. Your abilities to communicate, collaborate, and negotiate are at their sharpest, making it the optimal time for presentations, negotiations, and team leadership.
But there's more to crushing your performance review than just timing. Good preparation, and a smart script will help you control the review. The fact is that women still struggle to be promoted to manager at the same rate as men, which makes it nearly impossible for companies to support sustained progress at senior levels - but things are improving.
To help you beat the stats, let's dive into how you can harness your natural hormonal rhythms to prepare, perform, and follow up for maximum career impact.
In this blog you will learn how to:
Schedule your performance review during ovulation (days 12-16) when confidence and verbal skills peak
Use each cycle phase strategically for preparation: menstrual for reflection, follicular for building your case, luteal for detailed follow-up
Document achievements year-round to build a compelling narrative about your contribution
Be prepared with performance review scripts that work.
Follow up with concrete action plans to demonstrate commitment to growth and results
When to schedule your performance review (the biology behind confidence)
Here's something your career coach probably never told you: your brain literally changes throughout your menstrual cycle, and these changes can significantly impact how you perform in high-stakes conversations like performance reviews.
Women operate on a 28-day hormonal cycle, while men operate on a 24-hour one. This means that while your male colleagues have relatively consistent hormone levels day to day, you have access to different cognitive superpowers at different times of the month.
Peak performance times for communication and self-advocacy
During ovulation, testosterone increases and improves verbal fluency and verbal memory, helping with remembering words and details. The increase in estrogen and testosterone levels during ovulation can increase feelings of self-confidence, energy, and well-being. This is why many people feel more alert, energetic, and confident during this time.
This isn't just about feeling good. This phase is associated with peak energy, confidence, and assertiveness, making it an optimal time for high-stakes meetings, presentations, and negotiations. Leverage your heightened social skills, charisma, and emotional intelligence to build relationships, influence decisions, and advocate for yourself and your ideas.
Why ovulation equals a natural confidence boost
During this phase, changes in your brain and hormone chemistry result in heightened verbal skills. Your energy is magnetic and radiant. The ovulation phase is a powerful period during which you can make a significant impact at work. If you notice this is true for you, you can plan your schedule so you're feeling your most confident during meetings or job interviews.
How to prepare during each cycle phase
The secret to performance review success isn't just showing up on the right day. It's using your entire cycle strategically to prepare, perform, and follow through. Here's how to work with your natural rhythms instead of against them.
Menstrual phase: research and reflection time
During this phase, many women experience lower energy levels and heightened sensitivity to pain. To optimize productivity during this time, prioritize tasks that require less physical exertion and allow for increased rest and self-care.
This might sound counterproductive for performance review prep, but it's actually perfect for deep reflection work. Focus on activities that stimulate creativity, introspection, and planning, such as brainstorming sessions, journaling, or strategic thinking.
Use this time to:
Review feedback from the past year
Gather documentation of your achievements
Reflect on your career goals and where you want to grow
Identify patterns in your work performance
Follicular phase: building your case
The follicular phase begins right after menstruation and lasts until ovulation. This phase is when your body prepares for the potential of pregnancy. Your progesterone and estrogen levels start to rise significantly. This peak in estrogen drives energy, confidence, and motivation.
This surge in estrogen enhances brain function, particularly in areas related to creativity and problem-solving. You'll likely feel more energized and open to new ideas, making it a fantastic time for brainstorming and initiating projects.
Perfect tasks for this phase:
Crafting compelling narratives about your achievements
Preparing talking points and examples
Organizing your accomplishments by theme or impact
Creating visual presentations or supporting materials
Ovulatory phase: the ideal meeting time
This is your moment. Your abilities to communicate, collaborate, and negotiate are at their sharpest, making it the optimal time for presentations, negotiations, and team leadership.
Your verbal and communication skills are on fire in this phase. Schedule your performance review during this window when your natural confidence and communication abilities are at their peak.
Luteal phase: follow-up strategy
Prioritise tasks that require attention to detail, analytical thinking, and follow-through, such as data analysis, project management, or administrative work.
This phase is perfect for:
Writing detailed follow-up emails
Creating action plans based on review feedback
Implementing new systems or processes
Organizing next quarter's goals and projects
What to document throughout the year
It’s easy to assume that managers are aware of your contribution, but the reality is that often they are overloaded with other ‘jobs to do’ and don’t see the full picture. It’s your responsibility to help them do that.
So don't wait until performance review season to start gathering evidence of your impact. Create a system that captures your wins throughout the year. Here’s how:
Create a "Brag Document" system
Keep a running document that includes:
Major projects completed and their business impact
Problems you solved and how you solved them
Positive feedback from clients, colleagues, or stakeholders
Skills you've developed or certifications earned
Times you went above and beyond your role
2. Track achievements by quarter
Organize your accomplishments by business quarters to show consistent performance and growth. For each major achievement, note:
The challenge or opportunity
Your specific actions and contributions
Measurable results or outcomes
Skills demonstrated or developed
3. Collecting client/colleague feedback
Save emails, messages, or formal feedback that highlight your contributions. This could be from managers, clients, or even from employees more junior than you. If it’s a particularly important year for you, you might like to proactively gather other feedback. These third-party endorsements are incredibly powerful during performance reviews.
Performance review script templates that work
Opening statements that demonstrate value
Start strong with a summary of your key contributions:
"Over the past year, I've focused on [specific area] and delivered [specific results]. I'm excited to share the impact this has had on [team/company goals] and discuss how I can continue building on this success."
How to discuss salary and advancement
Be direct and data-driven:
"Based on my research of market rates for similar roles and my consistent performance in [specific areas], I'd like to discuss adjusting my compensation to [specific number/range]. Here's the business case for this investment..."
Addressing challenges professionally
Frame setbacks as learning experiences:
"One challenge I encountered was [specific situation]. Here's what I learned and how I've applied that learning to [subsequent success]. This experience has made me stronger in [specific skill/area]."
This guide from Harvard’s division on continuing education is a great resource to further your knowledge on how best to negotiate.
Follow-up strategies for maximum impact
Post-review action items
Within 24 hours of your review, send a follow-up email that:
Summarizes key discussion points
Confirms agreed-upon goals and timelines
Outlines your next steps
Expresses appreciation for the feedback and opportunity
Setting clear expectations for next cycle
Use this conversation to align on expectations for the coming year:
Specific goals and success metrics
Professional development opportunities
Resources or support you'll need
Timeline for check-ins and feedback
Building relationships for future reviews
Your performance review isn't a once-a-year event. Build ongoing relationships by:
Scheduling regular check-ins with your manager
Proactively sharing updates on your progress
Asking for feedback before problems arise
Supporting your colleagues' success as well
Take charge of your review success
Your performance review is one of the most important conversations you'll have for your career advancement. By timing it strategically and preparing with intention, you're setting yourself up for success that goes far beyond a single meeting.
The American journalist and activist Gloria Steinem once said: "Girls are taught to view their bodies as unending projects to work on, whereas boys from a young age are taught to view their bodies as tools to master their environment." It's time we rewrite that narrative, stop battling our biology and start harnessing it. Let's strive for success that comes naturally and create workplaces that truly work for women.
Track your confidence patterns and schedule your most important career conversations during peak performance times. Phase helps you sync your schedule with your cycle, so you can reduce burnout, feel smarter, and get more done. Try Phase today and sync your productivity with your cycle—download on iOS or sign up for the web or Android waitlist at phaseapp.io.
Credit: Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
