Sample Goals

Performance Goals

Performance goals/expectations describe specific and measurable outcomes that define success within the current job. Documented at the beginning of the performance year, or upon hire, goals and expectations reflect an employee's key responsibilities and clarify the most important results that are to be accomplished.

Guidelines: Every goal needs a short but descriptive title (aim for 60 characters or less), a description of the purpose or impact of the goal, the actions that will be taken, and how success is measured.

Commit Goals

  1. Actions

    Maintaining my performance document will enable me to sustain effectiveness and confidently contribute to performance discussions with my manager.

    • Complete online and classroom training on writing goals, participating in one-on-one meetings, exchanging feedback, and the use of PeopleSoft performance management
    • Participate in bi-monthly one-on-one meetings with my manager
    • Record notes from one-on-one meetings and updates to goals/accomplishments as needed 

  2. Measurements

    • Completed 3 online courses and reviewed applicable reference guides by September 201X
    • Participated in one-on-one meetings, with fewer than 2 cancelled throughout the year
    • Utilized PeopleSoft to record notes and updates to goals/accomplishments on a bi-monthly basis

  1. Actions

    Developing a process to enhance client support will improve our service and reputation with internal clients

    • Consult with internal stakeholders to identify needs
    • Establish a service-level agreement
    • Create client satisfaction feedback survey
    • Establish training plan for team members including the following courses: Customer Service, De-Escalation, Respect in the Workplace

  2. Measurements

    • Stakeholder consultations completed by November 201X
    • Service-level agreement established and communicated by December 201X
    • Baseline client satisfaction survey completed by January 201X
    • All team members have completed at least two of the three recommended training workshops by June 201X

  1. Actions

    Maintaining the website will ensure stakeholder access to timely program information

    • Attend a Drupal 8 workshop, offered by IT Training, to increase my understanding of our websites and how to edit them
    • Correct any outdated information
    • Update website monthly according to inputs from program lead
    • Establish a client survey to assess a baseline of client satisfaction with the website

  2. Measurements

    • Drupal workshop attended by August 201X
    • Updates and corrections to outdated information completed by September 201X
    • Website updates published within 24 hours of monthly deadline
    • Client survey completed and approved by October 201X; sent to key stakeholders by late October 201X

Stretch Goals

  1. Actions

    Providing assistance to my team-members throughout the year will empower them to sustain effectiveness and confidently contribute to performance discussions.

    • Complete online and classroom training on writing goals, participating in one-on-one meetings, exchanging feedback, and the use of PeopleSoft performance management
    • Take on leadership role within the team to train teammates and address questions about using the online performance documents. Recommend teammates also complete training
    • Participate in bi-monthly one-on-one meetings with my manager
    • Record notes from one-on-one meetings and updates to goals/accomplishments as needed 

  2. Measurements

    • Completed 3 online courses and reviewed applicable reference guides by September 201X
    • Teammates complete recommended training and demonstrate proficiency with the system
    • Participated in one-on-one meetings, with fewer than 2 cancelled throughout the year
    • Utilized PeopleSoft to record notes and updates to goals/accomplishments on a bi-monthly basis

  1. Actions

    In an effort to improve our service and reputation with internal clients, I will develop and communicate processes that enhance client support.

    • Consult with internal stakeholders to identify needs
    • Establish a service-level agreement
    • Create client satisfaction feedback survey
    • Establish training plan for team members including the following courses: Customer Service, De-Escalation, Respect in the Workplace
    • Develop presentation materials to promote services and educate internal clients
    • Schedule, promote, and host information sessions for client groups

  2. Measurements

    • Stakeholder consultations completed by November 201X
    • Service-level agreement established and communicated by December 201X
    • Baseline client satisfaction survey completed by January 201X
    • All team members have completed at least two of the three recommended training workshops by March 201X
    • By March 201X, completed four targeted information sessions to promote our services to a wider campus audience.

  1. Actions

    Implementing enhancements to the program website will improve stakeholder access to timely program information.

    • Attend a Drupal 8 workshop, offered by IT Training, to increase my understanding of our websites and how to edit them
    • Correct any outdated information
    • Interview key stakeholders to collect feedback on the website (ie: how they navigate the site, commonly-accessed sections, etc)
    • Collaborate with colleagues to propose updates to navigation and organization
    • Implement/develop updates to website, including updated banner photos
    • Update website monthly according to inputs from program lead
    • Establish a client survey to assess a baseline of client satisfaction with the website

  2. Measurements

    • Drupal workshop attended by August 201X
    • New website navigation developed and approved by October 201X; implemented by mid-November 201X.
    • Updates and corrections to outdated information completed by September 201X
    • Website updates published within 24 hours of monthly deadline
    • Client survey completed and approved by October 201X; sent to key stakeholders by late October 201X

Development Planning

Development planning is a lot like setting performance goals. Once you have decided what skill needs improvement or what knowledge you seek, following a template can be helpful to clearly articulate your plan and set you up for success.

Guidelines: Development goals need a short but descriptive title (aim for 60 characters or less), a definition of success, specific actions that will be undertaken, milestones and deadlines, a plan to stay accountable, and a list of constraints along with a plan to mitigate them.

Defining Success

I will be able to confidently deliver presentations when meeting with prospective donors and at our department meetings. 

Bridging the Gap

I have given a few presentations in the past and want to improve my confidence and strength of delivery. The development actions are:

  • I will approach a strong presenter within our department and seek their mentorship on how I can improve my presentation skills.
  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on designing better PowerPoint slides, applying what I learned by re-creating an existing presentation.
  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on Public Speaking Foundations and practice delivering an existing presentation in front of a camera. I will make notes on what to improve next time.
  • I will present at next month’s department meeting and seek feedback from my mentor afterward.
  • I will attend a Presentation skills course offered by Human Resources.
  • I will co-present with my mentor at three upcoming donor meetings and seek feedback from my mentor afterward.

Milestones and Deadlines

  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on PowerPoint slides and re-create a presentation within 4 weeks.
  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on Public Speaking within 4 weeks and record a practice session within 1 week of completing the course.
  • After presenting at next month’s department meeting, I will seek feedback from my mentor within 1 day.
  • I will register for an upcoming Presentation Skills course through Human Resources, completing it within the next 6 months.
  • I will schedule three donor meetings with my mentor over the next 4 months.

Accountability

  • I will share my redesigned PowerPoint slides with my mentor, explaining why I made certain revisions, and seek their feedback.  
  • I will show my best three minutes and worst three minutes of my recorded practice session to my mentor, seeking their feedback.
  • I will share what I learned from the Presentation Skills course with my mentor.
  • I will schedule recurring meetings with my mentor to discuss presentation skills and how I can continue to improve over the next year.

Constraints

  • I need a strong presenter to agree to mentor me. My first choice is Cassandra, but I can also approach Harinder or Taylor.
  • I need time to complete the LinkedIn Learning courses. I will review my upcoming deadlines and schedule that time into my calendar.
  • I need permission to present at the department meeting. I will speak with my manager.

Defining Success

I will be able to use Microsoft Excel 2016 and PivotTables to accurately prepare weekly summary reports for the leadership team meeting.

Bridging the Gap

I used Microsoft Excel 2010 at a previous employer with basic functions like sums, averages, and counts. I am unfamiliar with creating and using PivotTables. The development actions are:

  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on Excel 2016 fundamentals, following the practice materials.
  • I will complete the LinkedIn Learning course on PivotTables, following the practice materials.
  • I will generate a summary report and send it to my colleague (Sarah) and my manager to review and check for errors.
  • I will continue generating the reports weekly, sending the report to Sarah for her feedback before submitting to the leadership team.
  • I will recommend potential improvements to the summary report process, based on what I’ve learned and what experience has taught me.

Milestones and Deadlines

  • I will complete both LinkedIn Learning courses within two weeks.
  • I will submit my first attempt at the summary report within three weeks.
  • I will submit weekly reports up to two days in advance and heed Sarah’s feedback.
  • I will prepare and submit my recommended improvements to the process by the end of July. If approved, I will document those changes within two weeks and begin applying them immediately thereafter.

Accountability

  • I will meet with Sarah (30 minutes) after completing the LinkedIn Learning courses to share what I learned and learn about her experience applying these skills to the summary reports.
  • I will meet with Sarah and my manager (30 minutes) to walk through my first attempt at the summary report and receive their feedback.
  • I will raise my questions, comments, and concerns regarding this process with my manager, as needed, during our scheduled one-on-one meetings.
  • I will meet with Sarah and my manager (1 hour) in July to review my recommendations for the process and receive permission to proceed.

Constraints

  • I need time to complete the LinkedIn Learning courses. I will speak to my manager to discuss if we can fit this around my current workload, or if I should dedicate a day to completing them.
  • I may need extra time to complete the reports. I will schedule the weekly reports into my calendar to protect the time from meetings.

Defining Success

I will be able to increase my influencing skills by including multiple influencing techniques when selling a new idea.

Bridging the Gap

I am good at influencing close colleagues but have difficulty influencing those I don’t know.  The development actions are:

  • I will set up time with new clients to get to know them better.
  • Before meeting with new clients, I will review their agenda, concerns, motivations, obstacles, and previous accomplishments, and compare how my product can support them.
  • I will prepare and incorporate a number of influencing strategies in my message in order to communicate my message in different ways (i.e. prepare a number of facts and figures, use testimonials, focus on how I can support them in terms of their needs).

Milestones and Deadlines

  • I will complete LinkedIn Learning courses on influencing skills by the end of August.
  • I will read “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Chialdini by end of October.
  • I will add to the agenda for my one on one meetings with my manager in order to get feedback on how I have been able to improve my influencing skills and approaches, by the end of the month.
  • I will schedule a minimum of three face to face meetings with clients by December.

Accountability

  • I will ask my manager for feedback on my influencing approaches during our one on one conversations.  I will share my learnings with my manager and ask for feedback on my approach. 
  • I will schedule time to review questions and background information on new clients (i.e. what are the motivations of my client, how can my product support any obstacles) to help prepare my influencing statement.

Constraints

  • I may need to solicit feedback from others (i.e. coworkers, clients etc.) for feedback.My manager might not always be able to provide me specific feedback on my approaches. 
  • I know that this skill requires ongoing practice and may take some time to achieve. It may be difficult to keep motivated and focused on this skill development. I will schedule dates in my calendar to review my progress and if any changes to my goal is required.

Defining Success

I will be able to better manage my time and interruptions to allow time to focus on projects.

Bridging the Gap

I complete my tasks on time but want to be more strategic by spending less time answering emails and more time focusing on projects/goals. The development actions are:

  • I will schedule three 30 minute increments in my work schedule to tend to emails and phone calls.  For each one, prioritize urgency compared to existing weekly goals.
  • I will schedule two hours a week in my schedule to focus on planning for upcoming projects or personal initiatives.
  • I will keep a journal of where I spend my time.  Review which activities could have been delegated, were not important, or not urgent.

Milestones and Deadlines

  • I will read Stephen Covey “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by end of August.
  • I will adapt practices from the time management matrix by September.
  • Starting July 2nd, I will schedule 1 hour of planning on Fridays for upcoming week. Identify top priorities for the week in order to balance against additional demands/interruptions.

Accountability

  • I will review my calendar weekly and look for time to schedule a minimum of two hours to focus on planning and strategy. 
  • I will schedule three 30 minutes increments in my schedule to tend to emails and phone calls daily.
  • I will let my coworkers know that I’m blocking time off in my calendar to better manage my time and why I might be unavailable.
  • I will let my manager know about my time management strategies during our one on one meetings.

Constraints

  • I need to remain consistent and ensure that I don’t get distracted should my work load get busy.  I will let my manager know about my development goal and speak to it during our one on one conversations.