The 9 Box Grid assesses two key dimensions, placed on the axes of a three-by-three grid:

  • Potential dimension: Focuses on the employee’s abilities, skills, and potential for development. It assesses the employee’s development opportunities, whether they are ready for promotion, and whether they have the ability to take on more responsible positions in the future. On the vertical axis of the matrix, potential is classified as low, medium, or high, corresponding to the employee’s ability to develop and advance to higher positions in the company.
  • Performance dimension: Focuses on employees’ achievements in their work to date. The performance assessment takes into account how well the employee performs their duties, what goals they have achieved, what results they have achieved, and what their contribution to the organization’s activities is. On the horizontal axis of the matrix, performance is divided into three categories: below expectations, in line with expectations, and exceeding expectations.