Goal Setting

Three Types of Goals

Goals describe what you are setting out to accomplish, what success looks like, specific actions that will be taken, and how success is measured.

Job-related goals, also known as expectations, define key responsibilities of the job that are critical for individual success and have the greatest impact to individual and team achievements.

Stretch goals go beyond basic job expectations and can be incremental and continuous improvements to existing processes, new projects, or opportunities that are undefined in the job profile.

Development goals describe the knowledge, skills and experiences that an employee need in order to increase effectiveness in their current role or to support the achievement of career goals.

How to Make Effective Goals

Set Goals Every Spring

The goal setting process takes place between April 1st and June 30th. Starting in the spring, managers meet with their direct reports to discuss job expectations and goals for the coming year. Goals and expectations are recorded in the online performance documents on My HR Connection.

For new hires, managers should discuss goals and expectations within two months of hire. New Full-Time Continuing staff can record their goals in the online performance document. New limited term staff are not required to complete the performance development cycle, but they can keep track of their goals using a goal setting template.

Focus on Alignment

When discussing goals, try to connect them to goals of your team, faculty or unit, but don't delay goal setting until broader developmental planning is complete. If necessary, you can easily change, add or remove goals to stay aligned. Plan to revisit your goals every few months to ensure you're still on track and make adjustments as needed.

"Smarter" Goals

Use the SMARTER goal-setting framework to develop goals that are clearly defined and achievable.

Five Reasons to Set Professional Goals

Setting goals is the first step in reaching them
Everybody strives to improve themselves in one way or another, but no matter what you're working towards, the best way to get there is by setting and writing down concrete goals. Don't simply plan to be successful at work this year - instead, define measurable goals.
Seeing purpose in the everyday brings greater purpose, every day
Because goals tend to fit with portfolio goals and institutional strategies and plans, they help reveal the impact of your work on the bigger picture and your impact on the student experience or campus community.
Agreeing on goals cuts through the chaos
Some days, work just happens to you - urgent tasks command your full attention and you get stuck in reaction mode. Goals are one way to keep these days from taking over your week, your month, or even your year.
Stretch goals help keep the spark alive
If a career is to last, it must evolve, offer new challenges and encourage new opportunities. Setting stretch goals helps you think long term about where you want to take your career and act on a plan to get there.
Defining success means you can celebrate it
By setting specific goals, you are defining, in advance, the moment that you should jump up and shout, "I did it!" Sure, it's possible that you would complete the same project or set of tasks whether you set the goal or not, but the goal helps you see the accomplishment more clearly.

Sample Goals

Below is an example of a Wellness goal that can be used during your annual performance development goal setting.

Wellness Goal Example

Job Aids: Goal Setting Conversation Task:

Resources for Goal Setting

The following resources can be used to learn more about goal setting:

The following resources were designed specifically with limited-term employees in mind: