17 things bosses should always say in a performance review

As a boss, what you say to your employees in their performance reviews can either inspire and motivate them to improve performance, or cause them to feel confused, demotivated, even angry, says Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results."

"Effective leaders choose to make the review process a positive learning experience and let your main objective be the growth and development of your people," she adds.

The risks of not communicating clearly with your employees are another year of underperformance, mediocre results, low morale, and possibly quitting their jobs, Price says. "On the other hand, if you leverage the performance review to celebrate successes, communicate improvement, and coach the employee to embrace higher standards, everybody wins."

Here are 17 things you should always say or ask during performance reviews with your employees: