Introduction
Conversation templates support a variety of element types that help you collect feedback, display information, summarize employee activity, support collaboration, and guide participants through conversations.
This article describes each available element type, explains its purpose, outlines its configuration options, and provides examples of how it can be used.
Common element settings
Allow attachments toggle
You can enable participants to upload and attach relevant files or documents as part of their response to a question or element within a conversation. For example, if a question asks for supporting evidence or documentation (such as certificates, reports, or feedback forms), enabling the Allow attachments toggle allows respondents to include these files directly in their answer, streamlining the review and feedback process.
When attachments are enabled:
- Participants see a paperclip icon on the element.
- Uploaded files are displayed below the element.
- Participants can delete their own attachments while the stage remains editable.
- Other participants can view attachments but can't delete them.
- Attachments remain visible throughout the conversation lifecycle.
Required toggle
You can make the completion of an element mandatory before the participant can proceed or complete the current stage of the conversation. If a question or field is critical (such as a self-assessment or a compliance acknowledgment), enabling the Required toggle ensures that the participant must provide a response or complete the action before moving forward, helping maintain data integrity and compliance with process requirements.
Once you've configured an element, select Save.
Text elements
Text elements are used to structure conversations and provide information to participants. Unlike interactive elements, participants don't respond directly to text elements. Instead, they help provide context, instructions, headings, and supporting information.
Content
Static content blocks, where you can enter a Heading and Paragraph. Formatting options are available for paragraph text.
Use a Content element at the beginning of a self-review stage to explain the purpose of the review and provide guidance on how responses will be used.
Open text
Use Open text elements when participants need to provide detailed written responses in their own words.
Common uses include:
- Self-reflections
- Feedback
- Comments
- Development plans
Enter the Question text.
Open text elements support the common Allow attachments and Required settings.
Scale
Scale elements enable participants to provide input using a sliding scale, which can be numeric, assessment-based, or frequency-based.
Scale elements allow participants to provide ratings using a predefined scale. They are commonly used to assess performance, skills, satisfaction, engagement, or competency levels.
Examples include:
- Performance ratings
- Satisfaction scores
- Competency assessments.
1. Enter the Question and the Minimum value for the scale. The minimum value is the lowest rating on the scale.
2. Enter a label for each rating on the scale, for example Below expectations, Meets expectations, and so on. If you want to include an option employees can choose if the question doesn't apply to them, you can add Not applicable or similar in the Option 1 field.
3. To add more rating levels, select Add option.
4. Select Delete option (the icon) to delete an option.
Open text elements support the common Allow attachments and Required settings.
Choice elements
Choice elements allow participants to select from predefined options. Depending on the element type, participants can choose a single option, multiple options, or confirm a statement.
Confirmation
Use Checkbox elements for confirmation or acknowledgements, or simple yes or no responses. For example, you can require participants to confirm that they have reviewed the conversation before completing the final stage.
Enter the Title and Confirmation message.
Confirmation elements support the common Allow attachments and Required settings.
Multiple choice
Use Multiple choice when participants can select more than one option, for example when selecting multiple development areas for future focus.
1. Enter a label for each option.
2. To add more options, select Add option.
3. Select Delete option (the icon) to delete an option.
Open text elements support the common Allow attachments and Required settings.
Single choice
Use Single choice when participants must select one option from a predefined list, for example when selecting the primary area of achievement during the review period.
1. Enter a label for each option.
2. To add more options, select Add option.
3. Select Delete option (the icon) to delete an option.
Dynamic elements
Dynamic elements display information from Perform & Engage 365 or allow participants to interact with existing data. They can be used to review employee activity, summarize information, calculate results, and support goal-related discussions directly within conversations.
Data summary elements
Data summary elements display information from other areas of Perform & Engage 365 directly within a conversation. Rather than asking participants to manually review information across multiple features, these elements bring relevant information into the conversation to support discussion and decision-making.
Participants don't submit responses directly to Data Summary elements. Instead, they review the information as part of the conversation and, depending on the element configuration, may be able to add comments or attachments.
Understanding the conversation period
The data displayed by data summary elements is controlled by the Conversation Period configured on the campaign.
The conversation period determines how much historical data will be displayed in conversation elements.
For example:
- 3 months displays data from the previous three months.
- 12 months displays data from the previous year.
- 0 displays all available history.
The selected conversation period applies to:
- Check-in chart
- Check-in summary
- Recognition summary
- Goals progress
- Training.
Check-in chart
Displays rating trends for a selected check-in question during the configured conversation period.
1. Enter a Title.
2. Select a Check-in question from the drop-down list.
You can select from a variety of check-in question types that have been used in your organization's check-ins.
Check-in chart elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Check-in summary
Displays responses from a selected check-in question during the configured conversation period. Use this element to review previous reflections and feedback as part of a conversation.
1. Enter a Title.
2. Select a Check-in question from the drop-down list.
You can select from a variety of check-in question types that have been used in your organization's check-ins.
Check-in summary elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Training
Displays learning and training activity completed during the configured conversation period.
Enter a Title.
Training elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Ad hoc feedback summary
Displays ad hoc feedback collected during the conversation period, helping participants review feedback received throughout the review cycle.
1. Enter a Title.
2. Choose whether you want to Allow attachments by setting the toggle.
Add hoc feedback summary elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Recognition summary
Displays recognition activity involving the focus person during the configured conversation period.
Enter a Title.
Recognition summary elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Scale calculation
Calculates either a total score or average score based on selected Scale elements within the conversation template.
1. Enter a Title.
2. Select the Calculation type from the drop-down list:
- Average calculates the mean score of all selected scale inputs.
- Total adds all selected scale inputs together.
3. Select Add scale input and choose the scale element you want to include in the calculation.
Only scale elements placed above the scale calculation element are available for selection.
4. Optionally enter a Weight for the selected scale input.
Weights determine how much influence each scale input has on the final result. For example, a scale input with a weight of 2 contributes twice as much to the calculation as a scale input with a weight of 1.
5. To add more scale inputs, select Add scale input.
6. Select Delete scale input (the icon) to remove a scale input from the calculation.
NOTE
A scale calculation element can be added without any scale inputs, but it won't produce a meaningful result until at least one scale input is selected.
You must explicitly select the scale elements that should contribute to the calculation.
Use weighting when some criteria should have a greater impact on the final score than others. For example, Goals Achievement might contribute more to the final score than Collaboration.
The calculated result updates automatically based on the values entered in the selected scale elements.
Goals progress
Displays goal activity during the configured conversation period.
Enter a Title.
Goal progress elements support the common Allow attachments setting.
Goal planning
Use Goal planning elements to create or update goals directly from within a conversation.
1. Enter a Title.
2. Select the Default category from the drop-down list.
When a participant creates a goal using the Goal Planning element, the selected category is used as the default category for the new goal.
Collaborative elements
Collaborative elements support shared input and discussion between conversation participants. They help participants collaborate, capture ideas, and track follow-up actions.
NOTE
To use a collaborative element, first add the source element in an earlier stage. Then add the collaborative element and link it to the source element.
Collaborate
Displays a shared workspace where conversation participants can contribute and discuss responses together.
Select the element you want participants to collaborate on from the Collaborate on drop-down list.
To do list
Allows participants to create, assign, and track actionable items directly within the conversation. It's used to document specific tasks or follow-up actions that arise during the conversation, ensuring clarity on responsibilities and deadlines.
Enter the Title.
To do list elements support the common Required setting.
Reference elements
Reference elements display responses from another element earlier in the conversation. They are useful when participants need to reference previous responses while completing later stages.
For example, a manager review stage might display a self-assessment rating submitted during a self-review stage.
Keep in mind:
- Reference elements are read-only.
- Participants can't respond directly to reference elements.
- Participants can't upload attachments directly.
- Reference elements can't be used in other reference elements.
- If the source element is deleted, the reference element becomes invalid.
- Templates containing invalid reference elements can't be published.
Reference another element
Allows you to display content, data, or responses from another element within the same conversation template. It acts as a reference to an existing element, allowing participants to view information that has already been entered without re-entering it.
This element is commonly used to display responses from earlier stages of a conversation, helping maintain continuity, transparency, and consistency across participants and review stages.
1. Select the required View Element from the drop-down list.
2. If you want to allow participants to add comments for this element, select Enable comments checkbox.
Best practices for conversation template elements
When designing conversation templates:
- Place summaries before discussion questions.
- Use goal planning after reviewing goals.
- Use recognition summary to support discussions.
- Include check-in summaries to provide historical context.
- Configure an appropriate conversation period.
- Group related questions into sections.
- Avoid unnecessary elements.