Infer AI – Performance Highlights

Performance Highlights help you uncover key patterns in how high and low performers differ — by using AI to analyze responses at a competency and question level. Instead of manually sifting through responses, you get an instant, visual summary of strengths, gaps, and drivers of performance generated by AI without any hassle— enabling you to focus on what needs attention and take targeted action.

With performance highlights, you can:

• Identify what sets top performers apart
• Pinpoint where support or coaching is needed
• Compare trends across departments, roles, or locations
• Back your decisions with AI-powered, data-driven insights

Accessing Performance Highlights

1. Log in to your ThriveSparrow account.
2. Go to the relevant Performance Review report.
3. Click on the Reports section.
4. Open the Highlights tab.
    

Infer AI will generate an automatic summary of insights based on high and low performer data within that review.The report offers two views: Compact View and Detailed View.

To switch between the compact and detailed view, click on the dropdown and select the desired one. 

The Compact View displays the default report with concise text and visual graphs, while the Detailed View provides a comprehensive breakdown of each graph, offering in-depth insights.

Default Configuration

The first time you access the report, Infer AI auto-generates highlights with the following defaults:

• Group By: Department (default)
• View By: Score
• Drive By: Question
   

Performance highlights are always driven by employee performance ratings — meaning AI identifies patterns based on how top and low performers have responded to different questions and competencies.

Key Sections in Performance Highlights

Each highlight section is built by comparing trends across high vs. low performers:

1. Positive Outcomes

• Traits and competencies where high performers consistently score well
• Behaviors you may want to replicate across teams
   

2. Areas of Improvement

• Competencies or questions where low performers scored low
• Ideal for manager coaching and upskilling focus
   

3. Potential Risks

• Indicators that low performers may be misaligned, disengaged, or struggling
• Early warning signs before issues escalate
   

4. Critical Insights

• Major differentiators between high and low performers
• Insightful trends that could impact retention, team health, or leadership readiness
   

5. Key Drivers

• Which questions or competencies have the strongest correlation with overall performance
• Helps prioritize what to double down on in development efforts
   

Creating New Highlights

To customize your own highlight set:

Click New Highlight in the top right.

In the Choose Settings tab:
 

• Name the highlights with a title you desire
• Group By: Choose your grouping logic (e.g., Department, Role)
• View By: Keep it set to Score
• Drive By: Select either:
   
• • Question – to drill down into how specific questions were answered
  • Competency – to group insights by broader skill areas

(Optional) Apply filters for more focused reports
 

Click Continue
 

About Competency-Driven Insights

When you choose Drive By: Competency, Infer AI groups feedback under key skill clusters (like Collaboration, Decision-Making, or Communication). This helps you quickly understand performance at a macro level.

When you choose Drive By: Question, you get deeper, question-specific insights — useful for targeted coaching.

Then, in Topic Selection:

• Select the AI-generated categories or custom made ones to include (e.g., Positive Outcomes, Areas of Improvement)
• Click Generate Highlights
   

Your new report will reflect these settings and appear under the Highlights tab.

Action Plan Integration

Each highlight section may contain AI-suggested action plans. Here’s how to use them:

1. Click on a highlight with suggested actions.
2. Click on one of the Action Plans.
3. Review, edit, or create new steps.
4. Assign the plan, add a timeline, and click Save.
    

Creating a New Topic

1. Click + New Topic
2. Enter a topic prompt (e.g., “Ownership and Initiative”)
3. Click Generate — Infer AI will create insights tied to this new focus area
    

Use the three-dot menu next to the topic to Edit, Hide, or Delete it.

Sharing & Downloading the Report

To share your Performance Highlights:

• Click the Share icon
   
• • Choose Anyone with the link or Password Protected
  • Copy and distribute the link
     

To download:

• Click the Download button to export a PDF version of the full highlights report

Types of Charts Used to Interpret Performance Highlight Data

ThriveSparrow offers multiple chart types to help you visualize and interpret performance highlight data more effectively. Each chart type brings a unique lens to understand trends across roles, competencies, and performance levels. Here's a quick breakdown of each:

To change the chart type for any AI-generated insight, click the three-dot menu on the top-right corner of the chart, select your preferred visualization from the options, and click Continue to apply the change.

Bar Charts

Insight Bars A simple bar chart that displays scores across roles or teams. Great for quick comparisons and identifying top and bottom performers at a glance.

Axis Insights A variation of bar charts that includes reference lines or axes to show benchmarks or thresholds. Ideal for identifying who is exceeding, meeting, or falling short of expectations.

Flow MetricsHorizontal bar layouts that visualize the flow or progression of scores across entities. Useful for showing gradual changes or role-to-role performance shifts.

Donut Charts

Nested Circular ChartDisplays score layers within each other. The innermost circle usually represents the lowest value, while the outermost shows the highest. Helps visualize performance distribution across roles.

Halo ChartHighlights performance using semi-circle arcs. Each arc reflects a different role’s score. Great for side-by-side comparisons and spotting gaps in consistency.

Spectrum LoopA rainbow-like loop that shows how scores gradually progress across designations. Helps identify smooth vs. sharp changes in team performance.

Custom Charts

Network NodesVisually maps relationships and performance connections between teams. Often used to show shared strengths or collaboration links.

Growth CompassDisplays directional strengths and performance trends. Ideal for showing which roles are trending up, stable, or need attention.

Flow CurvesCurved paths that represent performance variation in a continuous loop. Good for highlighting patterns across multiple dimensions like skill growth or response sentiment.