How do you create a 9 box grid in Excel?

Build one row per employee with columns for name, role, manager, a performance rating from 1 to 3, a potential or readiness rating from 1 to 3, a line of evidence for each rating, and then action, owner and review date. Derive the box label from the two ratings with a formula rather than typing it, so nobody can override a placement quietly. To see it as a grid, chart the two rating columns as a scatter plot, set both axes to run from 0.5 to 3.5, and add gridlines at 1.5 and 2.5 to create nine visual zones. Keep the evidence in the same sheet, and copy the tab at the start of each cycle so you can compare placements over time.