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#Post#: 25150--------------------------------------------------
Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: jpcher Date: February 2, 2019, 7:17 am
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This is something that has always been bothersome to me. Setting
goals at your annual review and whether you achieve them during
the year or not reflexes(?) on your next year review.
I always put in something like "learn a new program" or "advance
my skills in this particular way" but, in general, daily work
load doesn't allow time enough to truly achieve these specific
goals. I keep up with the technology and all that, consistently
improve my skills with customer contact, etc. In other words I
do my job in a non-dead beat way. (does that make sense?)
To be honest, my goal has always been "Come into work with a
smile and positive attitude every day. Exceed the customers
requirements with my knowledge and talents in order to provide
excellent end products. Learn and interact with other team
members, opening up new (to me) knowledge and experiences."
That's a pretty in-general goal, nothing specific. But it seems
that management wants specifics.
How do you set your goals? Are they specific? And if your
day-to-day challenges don't allow you the time for specific
goals are you dinged for that at your year-end review?
#Post#: 25152--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Kimberami Date: February 2, 2019, 9:33 am
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Goals need a path for success. Instead of something big like "I
want to learn a new language" you have to break it down into
steps.
Month 1, I want to learn regular verbs and 5 irregular verbs.
Month 2, I want to work on vocabulary.
You get the idea. Make sure the steps are reasonable and
attainable. That way you won't be overwhelmed.
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
#Post#: 25155--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Hmmm Date: February 2, 2019, 10:48 am
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I think this is a discussion best put to your supervisor. Each
company, and many times bosses, have different opinions on how
they want goals. Some could want quantifiable objectives such as
complete 100% of your projects on time with a 90% customer
satisfaction rate. Then for a employee enrichment goal, it could
be to demonstrate increased knowledge of X activity through
engagement with Tax department team members.
#Post#: 25159--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Pattycake Date: February 2, 2019, 12:36 pm
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I agree with Hmmm - you should probably talk to your supervisor,
but I always liked the SMART acronym - Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Realistic, Timely. Kimpossible's example of language
learning fits this, and I really like "a goal without a plan is
just a wish!" I am retired, but I still think of SMART when
there's something I want to do that will take time and effort to
accomplish.
#Post#: 25190--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: browzer11 Date: February 2, 2019, 10:53 pm
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Goals, in business environments, are set by your Supervisor and
you during the annual review.
Where I used to work, we had a formal once a year performance
and salary review. We also had short weekly informal reviews to
review project schedules.
An in-general goal, by the employee, is only a starting point.
#Post#: 25261--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Carol1412 Date: February 4, 2019, 12:10 pm
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Your personal goals should also align with the company goals.
Find out what those are and break it down into smaller, specific
bits of how you can support them. That's how mine are set.
#Post#: 25265--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Jem Date: February 4, 2019, 12:44 pm
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[quote author=jpcher link=topic=970.msg25150#msg25150
date=1549113442]
...
I always put in something like "learn a new program" or "advance
my skills in this particular way" but, in general, daily work
load doesn't allow time enough to truly achieve these specific
goals. I keep up with the technology and all that, consistently
improve my skills with customer contact, etc. In other words I
do my job in a non-dead beat way. (does that make sense?)
...
[/quote]
As PPs have noted, your company probably has goals and you
should be certain that YOUR goals mesh with the company's goals.
Are you supposed to be learning new programs or advancing your
skills? If yes, make sure that you are meeting that goal by
either working smarter or explaining to the company what support
you need to have enough time for this. If other people ARE
finding ways to learn new programs it won't look good for you to
say that your daily work load does not allow YOU to learn a new
program, for example.
#Post#: 25266--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: bopper Date: February 4, 2019, 12:48 pm
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We are given goals that "trickle down"
My goals are (Paraphrasing)
1. Keep up with time sheets, vouchers, performance reviews, etc
2. Do my regular job activities on time with quality
3. "Self-competence readiness and competence transfer "...learn
about new aspects of my project and teach others
4. Focus on Customer needs and satisfaction. Set high standards
for quality and quantity.
5. Look for opportunities to reduce costs
#Post#: 25273--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Despedina Date: February 4, 2019, 3:08 pm
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I agree with what others have said that it all depends on your
manager/supervisor. My previous supervisor would pick apart our
goals and wording on our self-evaluations to the point that we
wondered why we bothered to fill them out at all. He also gave
us goals like going back to school or attending a $1500 training
(to be paid out of our own pockets). I would tell him no those
were not things I was going to be achieving. Evaluation time
was always a super stressful time.
When he left and got replaced my current supervisor has much
simpler goals. As others have described our dept also had a lot
of work not allowing us time to do some of the things previous
supervisor wanted done. I still don't get what he was trying to
do except maybe take credit for our accomplishments? But to
reiterate stay simple and if your supervisor pushes back ask
when you will be given time to accomplish more time-consuming
goals.
#Post#: 25295--------------------------------------------------
Re: Setting goals for the year . . . how do you do yours?
By: Copper Horsewoman Date: February 4, 2019, 7:06 pm
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This goal setting business seems to be a lazy way for a company
to give marching orders. If most people were given a truth serum
and asked, the goals would probably be
1. Stay employed
2. Not get blamed for any problems
3. Work enough not to get fired, but not so much that it damages
mental or physical health.
I am self-employed, and have been for many years, probably
because the above would be what I was thinking, regardless of
what I put on the paper.
I am reminded of the story of the nervous old lady, a first-time
flyer, on an airline back in the 1960s. At the time, pilots
sometimes handed control to the co-pilot midflight, and strolled
down the aisle, making small talk to the passengers. He came
over to the lady and kindly asked, "Is everything alright?" She
jumped as though stuck with a pin. "Is everything alright? I
hoped YOU would know!" - I think this is from the essay "Idle
in Idlewild" by Cornelia Otis Skinner
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