--- title: A review from start to finish description: Complete the employee's position's plan template first When you create a plan for an employee, it is pre-populated with all the content assigned to that employee's position's plan template. As a resul --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/a-review-from-start-to-finish#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![MainBrand\_RGB\_Icon\_Red.jpg\]](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MainBrand_RGB_Icon_Red.jpg?width=40&height=40&name=MainBrand_RGB_Icon_Red.jpg) - [Position Grading Request](https://balancedcomp.com/regrade-request/) - [Annual Comp Report](https://compreport.balancedcomp.com/) - [Past FinComp Sessions](https://www.youtube.com/feed/playlists) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Position Grading Request](https://balancedcomp.com/regrade-request/) - [Annual Comp Report](https://compreport.balancedcomp.com/) - [Past FinComp Sessions](https://www.youtube.com/feed/playlists) - English Show submenu for translations - balancedcomp.com balancedcomp.com How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [BalancedResults](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en) 3. [Performance Reviews](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#performance-reviews) # A review from start to finish **Complete the employee's position's plan template first** When you create a plan for an employee, it is pre-populated with all the content assigned to that employee's position's plan template. As a result, you should do as much work as possible on the [plan template](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/editing-a-plan-or-templates-content?hsLang=en) before creating a plan for an employee.  #### Step 1: Create a plan When an employee doesn't have a draft or active plan, you will see a red **No Plan** status in your employee list.  ![](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-04-03%20at%2011-30-48%E2%80%AFAM-png.png?width=670&height=285&name=Screenshot%202025-04-03%20at%2011-30-48%E2%80%AFAM-png.png)   If the employee's position's plan template is in good shape, you're ready to [create their plan](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/creating-a-plan?hsLang=en). #### Step 2: Activate the plan or submit it for initial approval Newly created plans are drafts, which are not accessible to the employee yet. From the **Initial**  **Approvals** page, you can make the plan active by either [activating the plan or submitting it for initial approval](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/making-a-draft-plan-active-manually-or-through-initial-approval?hsLang=en) depending on your organization's settings. #### Step 3: Make comments and notes Yeah! Your plan is now active. It is accessible by the employee and ready for [comments from you both.](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/writing-and-editing-comments?hsLang=en)   #### Step 4: Hold feedback sessions with your employee Feedback sessions are an opportunity for you to meet with the employee, without discussing ratings, and review their progress: - Talk to them about their accomplishments and anything that hinders them from meeting their expectations. - Determine if they are meeting expectations or need additional assistance, tools, or resources. After holding a feedback session, both you and the employee should log into the plan and [initial the feedback session](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/initialing-that-feedback-sessions-have-occurred?hsLang=en). #### Step 5: Finalize and complete the review at the end of the year Here’s a walk-through of the final steps to a comprehensive review: - [Enter your ratings](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/entering-ratings?hsLang=en) - [Write your supervisor overview](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/writing-your-supervisor-overview?hsLang=en) - [Submit your plan for final approval or manually finalize it](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/finalizing-an-active-review-manually-or-through-final-approval?hsLang=en)(depending on your organization's settings) - Hold the final review with your employee - (Optional) You and the employee can log in separately and [electronically sign the plan](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/electronically-signing-a-review?hsLang=en) - Click **Complete** on the e-Signatures page to completely finish it and update the employee's score in the system We cover what supervisors should do at the end of the year more thoroughly [here](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/what-supervisors-should-do-at-the-end-of-the-year?hsLang=en). #### Step 6: Creating a new review for the coming plan year You may want to start working on next year's plan as you are finishing up this year's. You can create a new plan, which the employee will not have access to, as it will be a draft initially. Since employees cannot have more than 1  *active* plan at a time, you will not be able to make the new plan active until the complete button is pressed on this year's plan. - [BalancedComp](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Employees](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#employees) - [Positions](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#positions) - [Reports](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#reports) - [System Administration](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#system-administration) - [Budget Builder](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#budget-builder) - [Logging In](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedcomp?hsLang=en#logging-in) - [BalancedResults](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Goal Libraries](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#goal-libraries) - [Performance Reviews](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#performance-reviews) - [Approvals](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#approvals) - [Feedback Sessions](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#feedback-sessions) - [Settings](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#settings) - [Users](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#users) - [Troubleshooting](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [Reports](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#reports) - [Templates](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedresults?hsLang=en#templates) - [BalancedRewards](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedrewards?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Settings](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedrewards?hsLang=en#settings) - [Goal Libraries](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedrewards?hsLang=en#goal-libraries) - [FAQ](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/balancedrewards?hsLang=en#faq) [![BalancedComp-Horizontal-Digital-White](https://knowledge.balancedcomp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BalancedComp-Horizontal-Digital-White.png?width=200&height=58&name=BalancedComp-Horizontal-Digital-White.png "BalancedComp-Horizontal-Digital-White")](https://balancedcomp.com) P.O. 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