System attributes are the building blocks of your Performance Leader platform—they define how users are organised, how data is structured, and how information flows through reviews and reports. This guide walks you through each type of attribute you can configure, from core user details like department and role to more specialised settings like financial metrics and capability frameworks. We've organised the content by attribute type, so you can quickly find what you need.
Understanding system attributes
System attributes appear in the Settings section under Attributes. They fall into several categories, each serving a different purpose across the platform. Some are required for every user (like department, role, and location), whilst others are optional and used for specific reporting or configuration needs.
Changes you make to attributes are instantaneous—as soon as you add, edit, or delete an attribute, it becomes available (or unavailable) throughout the system.
Core system attributes: department, role, and location
These three attributes are the foundation of your user structure. They're required for every user and drive permissions, reporting, and system configuration.
What they're used for:
Defining user profiles in the User Manager
Setting up Restricted Admin access (you can scope admin permissions by department, role, or location)
Configuring leadership views
Identify users to add into a review
Filtering and organising users, reports, engagement data across the platform
How to create a core attribute:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes
Find the section for Department, Role, or Location
Type the attribute name in the field at the top
Click Add
The attribute now appears in dropdown lists throughout the system, including the User Manager
How to edit a core attribute:
Click the Edit (pencil) icon next to the attribute
Update the name or enable/disable the attribute
Optionally, add a filter—filters let you conditionally show questions, prompts, or information in reviews based on specific attributes
Save your changes
How to delete a core attribute:
Click the Delete (bin) icon next to the attribute
The attribute is removed immediately
Example: If you create a location called "Paris," it will instantly appear in the Location dropdown when you edit a user in the User Manager.
Custom attributes
Custom attributes allow you to capture additional information about users that isn't covered by the core attributes. These appear on user profiles but aren't used to define permissions or access—they're primarily for reporting and analysis.
These attributes are NOT shown to end users - they are visible to admins only.
What they're used for:
Recording extra details like sector, practice area, or employee type
Filtering reports and exporting data
Providing context for reviews and check-ins
Configuring Leadership Views
How to create a custom attribute:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Custom Attributes
Type the attribute name
Click Add
The attribute will appear in the Custom Attributes section of the user's profile
Unlike core attributes, custom attributes are not required for users and won't be used to configure Restricted Admin permissions.
Financial metrics: row and column headers
Financial attributes define the structure of your financial data template. Once set up, you can upload financial information against users, and this data can be displayed in reviews. Data can be updated at a per user level, or uploaded in bulk.
How to create financial row or column headers:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Financial Row Headers (or Column Headers)
Type the name of the row or column (e.g., "Utilisation" or "Q1 Revenue")
Click Add
The header is now part of your financial data template
How to reorder financial headers:
Drag and drop rows or columns into the desired order
Changes are applied dynamically
The financial table is a template. Only cells with uploaded data will display on a user's profile. If you've created many headers but a user only has data for "Utilisation, FY26" that's all they will see.
Capability headings
Capability headings define the structure of your capability editor, which is used to assess and track skills or competencies across your organisation.
How to set capability headings:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Capability Headings
Create the headings you need
Save your changes
These headings will appear in the capability editing tool
A separate video covers the full capability editor in detail.
Import fields
Import fields are custom data points you can bulk-upload through the Utilities tool and then bring into reviews or reports.
How to create import fields:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Import Fields
Define the field name
Click Add
Once created, you can bulk-upload data for this field using the Utilities section
You must create import fields before you can upload data against them.
Tags for objectives
Tags help users categorise their objectives and guide reporting. They appear when users are setting objectives and can be grouped into categories for easier navigation.
How to create tags:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Tags
Create a tag group (this acts as a category)
Add individual tags within that group
Save your changes
Example: You might create a tag group called "Strategic Priorities" with tags like "Client Excellence," "Innovation," and "Operational Efficiency."
Contributor relationship groups
Contributor relationship groups are used in 360 reviews and feedback processes. When a user nominates someone to provide feedback, they define the relationship (e.g., partner, peer, direct report). These relationships are then used to organise and present feedback whilst protecting anonymity.
What they're used for:
Tracking the relationship between feedback providers and recipients
Grouping feedback by relationship type in reports and reviews
Merging ratings within groups to protect anonymity (e.g., if only two peers respond, their ratings may be combined)
How to create contributor relationship groups:
Navigate to Settings > Attributes > Contributor Relationship Groups
Add relationship types (e.g., "Partner," "Peer," "Client," "Direct Report")
Save your changes
These groups will appear when users nominate contributors during a 360 review.
Using filters to customise reviews
When editing core or custom attributes, you'll see an option to add a filter. Filters are powerful tools that let you selectively show content in reviews based on user attributes.
Example use cases:
Show specific questions only to partners or senior staff
Display financial data prompts only to fee earners
Tailor review content by department or location
To use filters effectively, tag your attributes with filter names (like "Financial," "Leadership," or "In Scope"), then reference those filters when building review templates.
Searching, editing, and deleting attributes
All attribute sections include a search bar, making it easy to find and manage large lists.
To search:
Type a keyword in the search bar at the top of the attribute section
Results appear instantly
To edit:
Click the Edit (pencil) icon next to the attribute
Make your changes and save
To delete:
Click the Delete (bin) icon
The attribute is removed immediately