Seeing Potential Problems: 40 Useful Performance Feedback Phrases

Seeing Potential Problems: Use these sample phrases to craft meaningful performance evaluations, drive change and motivate your workforce.

Seeing Potential Problems is the ability to structure the current situations and identify developments that could cause problems in the future.

Seeing Potential Problems: Exceeds Expectations Phrases

Takes the time to clearly define the problem instead of jumping into solution mode immediately
Challenges the definition of the problem from all angles; looks at the problem from all directions in order to decide the best solution
Checks to identify the potential root cause of the problem and deals with it before it causes the problem
Develops multiple possible ways to prevent the problem in order to come up with the right one
Checks to see whether what seems like a problem is an opportunity in disguise before taking any action
Checks to see that team members have understood what their responsibilities are and that they own their part of the project in order to avoid future problems
Implements one-on-one meetings with the team members in order to increase transparency in communication and solve problems before they occur
Creates realistic projects deadlines and milestones in order to stay on track and avoid missing deadlines
Encourages the team to work on the quality of the company deliverables in order to prevent future problems with customers
Checks to see what issues are likely to happen with high impact to the project and develops contingencies for them

Asks team members to paraphrase their understanding of the project and their roles in it as well as the consequences of not completing it
Trains every member of the team on good time estimation skills in order to maintain accurate schedules
Assigns team members deadlines for the projects that are much earlier than what one actually needs in order to give time for changes and other reviews
Uses project management systems that provide resource visibility and forecasting tools in order to reduce schedule thrash ultimately
Looks for changes that affect the requirements of the project and finds a solution as first as possible in order to keep the projects going
Sits down with the management team every time something new is added to the project in order to determine its verdict
Identifies individuals that are behind schedule and who are not reporting their progress in order to find out what the problem is
Regularly checks in with team members either in person or by phone in order to see how things are going and address issues
Lets employees and colleagues know what is going on behind the scenes in order to help them prepare for changes
Encourages constructive feedback from employees in order to know what is happening on the ground

Does not take the time to test a new feature before it is introduced to a project thus is not able to uncover hidden issues
Fails to keep thorough records and to apply the lessons learned thus is unable to provide insights for future decisions
Does not inform employees of changes that are about to be introduced thus makes them feel under pressure to react
Asks for feedback from employees regarding a project but does not develop ways to prevent the reported anticipated problems
Does not document steps taken to solve previous problems thus is unable to apply that knowledge to prevent future problems
Does not take the time to assess known variables or apply past lessons thus fails to predict future problems
Jumps into solution mode even before one understands the problem thus sometimes makes a small problem seem bigger than it should be
Assumes to know everything that is happening in the company and does not seek input from other employees
Looks for the next product or service to sell rather than the next problem to solve thus fails to meet some of the customers' needs
Does not allow customers to try products before they buy, thus makes the customers have doubts on the products

Describe a time when you have been able to see a huge future problem. What made this possible and how did solve it?
How have you helped other employees improve their ability to anticipate problems? Give an example
Is there a time when you have faced a huge problem that could have been prevented? How did you go about solving it?
Describe a solution that was implemented primarily due to your ability to see potential problems. What was the problem?
Is there a time when you have met resistance while trying to implement a solution to a future problem? Describe the situation
How do you test a new software in order to make sure that it does not have hidden issues?
When hiring employees, how do you make sure that they are the best fit for the position at hand?
How do you set projects deadlines and milestones to make sure that employees meet them successfully?
What are some of the project management tools, if any, that you have used to determine the future of your project?
How have you helped employees who are behind schedule to improve their performance and meet deadlines?