What's included
Free 9-box grid template overview
Our 9-box grid assessment template offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating employee performance and potential.
This downloadable template includes:
- Simple 9-box assessment: Evaluate employees based on two key questions: "Assess this employee's potential" and "Assess this employee's performance," both on a 1-3 rating scale; the results are automatically compiled in the "Results: Simple 9-box grid" sheet
- Advanced 9-box assessment: Use different rating scales for performance, which are then converted to a 3-point system for the 9-box grid; results are compiled in the "Results: Advanced 9-box grid" sheet
- Detailed rating scales: Consult the detailed rating scale for assessing performance and potential to ensure consistent and accurate reviews
- Automated results compilation: The 9-box grid automatically populates with employee names based on your assessments; each box in the grid includes a percentage indicating its share from the total pool of evaluated employees
- Interpretation guide: Use the "Interpretation" sheet to understand the profiles for each category of employees
- Advice for enabling the full potential of your employees: Get actionable advice to help employees thrive within your organization, tailored to their specific performance and potential ratings
How to use this 9-box grid Excel template
This template contains two variations of the 9-box grid.
The simple version of the 9-box assessment is based on answering two questions: "Assess this employee's growth potential" and "Assess this employee's performance." Both questions use a 1-3 rating scale, which allows for easy plotting of employee performance and potential on the 9-grid.
The advanced version of the 9-box assessment relies on multiple performance review questions and a single question to identify potential.
The advanced version offers more options to customize your assessment:/p>
- There are five question options for rating current performance—feel free to edit or replace them, for example, by incorporating competencies or specific performance metrics
- You can also add or remove from the total number of questions
- You can adjust the rating scale for evaluating performance, so you're not confined to a 1-3 rating scale
- We added detailed rating instructions for two options for rating performance: 1-4 and 1-5 scales; note that the potential is evaluated on a 1-3 scale
Regardless of the version you choose (simple or advanced), once you've assessed employee potential and performance, the 9-box grid will automatically populate with your employees' names.
Below each box, you will find a percentage indicating its share from your evaluated employee pool.
To interpret the results, browse the "Interpretation" sheet. You will find profiles for each employee category and actionable advice for helping them thrive in your organization.
Use the profiles to start conversations with employees about their career paths. Use the follow-up actions during one-on-one coaching sessions as starting points for creating individual development plans.
FAQs
What is a 9-box grid?
The 9-box grid is a talent management tool that offers a visual representation of an employee's current performance and growth potential based on a set of predefined criteria.
It is a 3x3 matrix that divides employees into nine categories (the nine boxes) based on their performance and potential. The x-axis plots 3 performance levels (low, moderate, high), while the y-axis plots 3 potential levels (low, moderate, high).
McKinsey introduced the 9-box grid model to help organizations assess their employees' performance and potential, facilitating strategic decisions about talent development and leadership pipelines.
What does each box on the 9-box talent grid stand for?
The nine categories of the 9-box talent grid are:
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- High potential - high performer—top talent and potential leaders
- High potential - moderate performer—employees worth keeping an eye on who would benefit from advanced training or cross-functional project opportunities
- High potential - low performer—failing to channel their skills effectively into their current role
- Moderate potential - high performer—high-performing employees who excel in their current role with limited growth potential
- Moderate potential - moderate performer—solid contributors with average potential and performance who could develop into high performers or specialists with targeted development
- Moderate potential - low performer—employees struggling in current role with average potential either because of insufficient training or bad role fit
- Low potential - high performer—highly effective in the current role but not likely to progress further, they can be specialists who are unmatched in their specific areas of expertise
- Low potential - moderate performer—adequate performer with limited growth potential, they might not be interested in taking on more responsibilities
- Low potential - low performer—bad hire or poor role fit—there may be a significant mismatch between the employee’s skills and the demands of the job
Is the 9-box grid template available for free?
Yes, our 9-box grid template is available for free. You get a link to download your copy that you can start customizing right away with your team members’ details.
How do you fill out a 9-box grid for employee performance assessment?
The human resources professionals define clear criteria for 'performance' and 'potential.'
Performance is typically easier to measure and can be based on the achievement of specific goals, quality of work, and overall contribution to the organization.
Potential, on the other hand, is about the employee's capability to grow into roles of greater responsibility and complexity in the future. This can include showcasing a specific skill set, such as leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
Managers assess each team member based on the established criteria for current performance and future potential.
Place team members in the appropriate boxes of the 9-box grid based on their assessment results. Conduct calibration meetings with leadership to ensure consistent and fair placement and prevent biases from creeping into the evaluations.
Use the insights from the talent review for strategic workforce planning, ensuring alignment with future organizational goals and leadership succession.
How do you use the 9-box grid for employee development?
The 9-box grid helps to evaluate and map out an organization's talent pool based on two key dimensions: current role performance and future potential.
Depending on where an employee is placed on the grid, you can create a targeted action plan for employee development, engagement, or retention.
For example, for the top performers showcasing low potential, you will need to focus on rewarding their contributions and considering roles that leverage their expertise without necessarily requiring advancement into leadership positions.
For those showing moderate potential and underperformance, you can create a performance improvement plan with achievable, short-term performance goals.
How does the 9-box grid work for succession planning?
The 9-box grid helps identify and prepare future leaders and successors to critical roles within an organization by highlighting employees who are ready to take on more significant roles.
Use the grid to identify employees who are not only high performers well but also have the potential to grow into leadership roles (typically those in the top two rows of the grid).
Once you have identified the employees with the potential for leadership potential, you can sign them up for targeted development initiatives such as leadership development training, mentorship, cross-functional experiences, and involvement in strategic projects.
