How to write workday goals?
I have no idea what to do with the workday goals as a mid-level software engineer. They must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Related). It is not that I lack ambition. It is just that having personal goals that are supposed to positively impact business feels odd to me. I'm spending my time trying to add value to my team and make sure that we deliver. What am I supposed to do with a personal goal? If there is a high reward task that can be done, it will be done by the team. If the task is not valued highly enough by the team, why should I make it my goal to do it?
My manager have said that it is ok to have goals that are supposed to be about improving your "character", "skills" or "behaviours", but how can that be measurable?
help
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Discussion
(2 comments)- 3
4 months agoMentor Coach for SWEs | Former Staff Software engineerI'm surprised your org doesn't give you guidance on how to fill these out. In my experience, these guidelines are around how to align your goals with your org's goals and your org's leadership goals.
In the absence of guidance, here's what I'd do:
- Look at your career ladder and identify goals that will help you meet/exceed at your current level first. If that's already the case, then identify goals you need to hit to get to the next level.
- Identify how these goals can be written in WorkDay. It'd be better if the KPIs/OKRs of your goals can be aligned with that you org and its leadership.
- Even in a regular perf review, you're asked about 1-2 things you'd do differently/better in the next half. I'd make these your personal goals in WD. I'd also limit the personal goals to 1-2 max.
- 14 months agoFounder @ Yogi Sharma Coaching, Ex-Facebook
It is just that having personal goals that are supposed to positively impact business feels odd to me.
I hear you. It does seem hard and off. But also understand that aligning personal and business impact is one of the key factors in long-term personal and professional growth. I was able to do this when worked at Facebook... it does take time, it does take effort, it does take conversation with manager and it does take "leaning into discomfort", but it is worth it.
To get started, one thing I suggest people do (and I have done it myself) is to take a goal (personal or professional), and ask a few times why you want to do it... if you do it, then what, then what... etc. And you do it for both personal and business goals and in the space of answers to "why questions", there is potential to find the commanality.
If this is helpful, I am happy to share more. Just reach out.
