We are introducing a new perfomance management system and are looking for standardized wording around the above ratings. If you are willing to share your definitions, I'd appreciate it.

Exceptional, Successful, Needs Improvement

Donna,

I'm just guessing but by b/c you're looking for definitions on "Exceeds, meets, etc." it doesn't sound as if you're focusing on performance. Or more specifically, it sounds like you're focusing on behavior, or very general expectations (such as: "exceeds expectations").

Here's a suggestion--try assessing people on outcomes or specific results. That would be much more objective and measureable.

If I may "piggyback" onto what Joe is talking about...In order for those words to have any meaning, you need to have specific, measureable, observable results that are expected of the individual. If there is no specific thing to exceed, then exceeding has no meaning.

We do have specific and measureable objectives that we call commitments. All I'm asking for is the defintions your company uses, if in fact you use theses words.