| If you establish performance goals during the | | | | development goals specify what the employee will |
| annual performance evaluation process and have | | | | learn for the coming year. While attending a class |
| often wondered where to start, here is a little | | | | to learn something new is noble, I challenge you |
| guidance. I work with many supervisors and | | | | to find new ways to help employees develop |
| employees who see goal setting as the | | | | their skills while clearly linking the goal to the |
| opportunity to list the classes the employee will | | | | organization's needs. For example, "cross training in |
| attend for the coming year. And, while learning | | | | a new work area at least one day per week" is a |
| goals are appropriate, the goal setting process can | | | | professional development goal. A better goal |
| be much more meaningful. Here are four kinds of | | | | would be to cross train in the accounting |
| goals that you might consider when setting annual | | | | department at least once per week and be able |
| performance goals. | | | | to reconcile bank statements by October 31. Or, |
| 1. Essence of the Job Goals - These are the goals | | | | "attend a training class on PowerPoint and develop |
| that clearly describe tasks that are required on | | | | a new slide show to be used in new employee |
| the job. For example, an accountant might have a | | | | orientation" would be more challenging than just |
| goal to prepare and submit monthly financial | | | | attending the class. Make sure the professional |
| statements. A librarian might have a goal to | | | | development goals not only develop the |
| catalogue and reshelf returned books within 12 | | | | employee, but also help your organization. |
| hours. A mail clerk might have a goal that requires | | | | 4. Performance Improvement Goals - |
| her to deliver all mail daily to all work sites. | | | | Performance improvement goals should be saved |
| Essence of the job goals make the expectations | | | | for those times when you want to emphasize |
| for the job clearer than they are listed on the job | | | | clearly that an employee's behavior must change. |
| description. These goals personalize the job to the | | | | Performance improvement goals include things |
| position and to the individual employee. | | | | like, "arrive to work ready to serve customers at |
| 2. Project Goals - Project goals are those | | | | 8 a.m. every day" or "limit the number of |
| activities that the employee will pursue with a | | | | customer complaints you receive to three per |
| beginning and an end and may be above and | | | | quarter." Obviously, not all employees would need |
| beyond the employee's routine duties. Project | | | | these kinds of goals. However, they can be helpful |
| goals can be related to improving systems, | | | | in documenting your performance expectations in |
| developing new products, creating new programs, | | | | a clear and measurable way. |
| or anything else that you can think of. | | | | Now, go out there and set some goals! Make |
| 3. Professional Development Goals - Professional | | | | your expectations clear and everyone wins! |