Performance Goals, Expectations, and Development Plans
What are goals and expectations?
Performance goals/expectations describe specific and measurable outcomes that are necessary for 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 in a given year.
What should a goal or expectation include?
Goals/expectations should describe what you are setting out to accomplish, what success looks like, specific actions that will be taken, and how success is measured. Well-written goals meet the SMART criteria, are achievable within the performance year, and should support the goals of the team and Faculty/Unit.
Commit Goals
These are 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. Commit goals may describe the core work of the role, along with specific actions and measures of success.
Stretch Goals
Go above the basic expectations of the job. Stretch goals can be incremental and continuous improvements to existing processes, projects, different types of work, or opportunities that are otherwise undefined in the job profile. Stretch goals can be linked to a development goal if there is an element of growth/learning involved.
How do I Get Started with Goal-Setting
For assistance: check out the reference guide or try the interactive demo.
If you do not have a performance document, managers can request an online document for employees who do not already have one.
Get trained:
Enrol for the Connect to Perform Learning Series and complete the 30-minute module on goal-setting, or attend a goal-setting workshop (typically offered in the Spring and Fall).
Review Samples
You may find it helpful to review some example goals while writing your own.
Record your goals
Employees and managers can record goals using the online performance document, available at my.ucalgary.ca.
Development Goals
What are development goals? Development goals are learning and growth oriented and form the basis of a development plan. This type of goal focuses on the knowledge, skills and experiences that an employee needs to maintain or increase effectiveness in their current role, or to support the achievement of future career goals. Development goals can be a combination of short term (within the current performance year) or longer-term objectives.
How do I Get Started with Development Planning?
If you need help, check out the reference guide to learn more about adding to your performance document throughout the year, including development planning.
If you do not have a performance document, managers can request an online document for employees who do not already have one.
Get Trained
Enrol for the Connect to Perform Learning Series and complete the 30-minute module on development planning.
Review Samples
You may find it helpful to review some example development goals while writing your own.
Record your Development Goals
Employees and managers can add to the development plan using the online performance document, available at my.ucalgary.ca.