You Own Your Goals – Stay SMART
We’re about to enter the seventh month of 2016 and this means that you have six months left to meet the performance objectives you agreed to six months ago—goals that will determine your contribution to the organization and possibly a bonus, merit increase, or promotion.
It’s time to pull out your goals, see how you are doing, and update your manager. Even if a mid-year review is not required by your organization, you own your goals and you own your progress—don’t you want clarity on where you stand?
Go through each goal and ask yourself:
- Is this goal still specific? Or has it evolved and needs clarity?
- Are the measurements of success for this goal still meaningful?
- Is this goal still aligned with the corporate goals and values? Is it still relevant?
- Has anything changed in the organization, or with your role or manager, that decreases the importance or relevance of this goal?
- Is this goal still realistic?
- What remains to be done to accomplish this goal by the agreed upon time?
- Will I be able to 100 percent accomplish this goal, and if not, what help do I need?
- Does the percentage weight for this goal still reflect performance criteria?
- Sometimes as a priority shifts, so does the weighting, up or down.
- What projects have been added to my role that aren’t reflected in my goals but impact the department’s annual goals?
Take notes and write responses to each of the above for each goal and update your manager. Even if nothing has changed and you are on track, set up a meeting to show your manager you’re on track. And if you’re not, now is the time to set expectations and ask for help. Now is the time to update your performance objectives to reflect any additional responsibilities or goals that have been added to your plate.
Set yourself up for success and create visibility of your progress. You’re worth it. Stay SMART!
SMART= Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic, and Time-bound
