Goal setting skills are critical for employees in any organization: they allow employees to establish clear objectives and create achievable action plans. These skills are essential for fostering employee growth, aiding in productivity, and shaping the overall success of a company. Developing and refining goal-setting abilities is an ongoing process that requires regular reflection and evaluation.

To determine an employee’s rating for goal setting, consider the following questions:

1. Did the employee set clear and achievable goals that were aligned with the company’s objectives?
2. Did the employee demonstrate a proactive approach to goal setting and take ownership of their goals?
3. Did the employee effectively communicate their goals to their manager and team members?
4. Did the employee regularly review and update their goals as needed, and make progress towards achieving them?
5. Did the employee show flexibility and adaptability in adjusting their goals as circumstances changed?

Based on the answers to these questions, you can assign a rating to the employee for goal setting. For example, if the employee consistently set clear and achievable goals that were aligned with the company’s objectives, effectively communicated their goals, and regularly reviewed and updated them, they would likely receive a high rating. On the other hand, if the employee struggled to set clear goals, did not take ownership of their goals, and failed to make progress towards achieving them, they would likely receive a lower rating.

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2000+ Performance Review Phrases: The Complete List (Performance Feedback Examples)

Goal Setting Performance Review Phrases and Paragraphs Examples

5 – Outstanding

Example Phrases

• Consistently sets challenging goals that align with the organization’s objectives
• Goes above and beyond in setting achievable targets while pushing personal limits
• Demonstrates exceptional foresight in anticipating future challenges and opportunities
• Acts as a role model for colleagues in setting and exceeding ambitious goals
• Proactively seeks out new opportunities for self and team growth
• Exceptional ability to set goals and consistently achieves them in a timely manner
• Goes above and beyond in creating clear objectives that align with company values and overall mission
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to personal and professional development

Paragraph Example 1

“Jane is an outstanding example of an employee whose goal-setting skills consistently drive her to excel in her job. Her ability to set ambitious targets and push her personal limits enables her to consistently achieve objectives aligned with the organization’s goals. As a result, she has become a role model for her colleagues in setting and exceeding challenging goals. Jane’s foresight in anticipating future challenges and opportunities helps her proactively adapt her strategic approach, which contributes to her team’s ongoing growth and success.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Jane consistently demonstrates outstanding goal-setting skills. She has a remarkable ability to create SMART goals that align with the company’s mission and values. Her commitment to personal and professional development is evident in her ongoing success in achieving her objectives.”

4 – Exceeds Expectations

Example Phrases

• Consistently sets ambitious, yet attainable goals for themselves and the team
• Actively involves team members in the goal-setting process, ensuring alignment and motivation
• Regularly exceeds targets, demonstrating exceptional commitment and ability
• Effectively communicates expectations to all team members, inspiring a high level of performance
• Demonstrates mastery in breaking down complex objectives into manageable tasks
• Aligns objectives with company values and overall mission
• Demonstrates a commitment to personal and professional development

Paragraph Example 1

“Jane consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to set and surpass goals within the team. She involves all team members in the goal-setting process to ensure that tasks are aligned with overall objectives. Jane exhibits excellent communication skills, providing clear articulation of expectations and inspiring high levels of performance from everyone. By breaking down complex objectives into manageable tasks, she has guided her team toward remarkable achievements, successfully exceeding targets on a regular basis.”

Paragraph Example 2

“John consistently exceeds expectations in setting and attaining SMART goals. His objectives are well-aligned with the company’s values, and he remains committed to his personal and professional growth. John’s goal-setting capabilities are a significant asset to our team.”

3 – Meets Expectations

Example Phrases

• Sets realistic and achievable goals that align with the team’s objectives.
• Demonstrates good progress towards accomplishing assigned goals within deadlines.
• Consistently reviews and adjusts individual goals as necessary to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Effectively communicates own goals and expectations to team members and keeps them informed about updates.
• Sets and meets reasonable goals that align with job expectations
• Understands the importance of setting goals, but may require occasional guidance
• Demonstrates willingness to learn and develop goal-setting skills

Paragraph Example 1

“Anna consistently meets expectations with her goal-setting skills. She sets realistic and achievable goals, ensuring they align with the team’s objectives. Throughout the project, Anna keeps her team members informed about the progress towards her goals and deadlines. As circumstances change, she reviews and adjusts her goals, demonstrating her ability to adapt and remain focused on the overall objectives. This skill allows Anna and her team to stay on track despite any challenges they encounter along the way, maintaining a clear and confident direction for the project.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Sara meets expectations in goal setting. She creates reasonable goals that align with her job expectations and demonstrates a willingness to learn and develop her goal-setting skills. With occasional guidance, Sara can continue to improve her ability to set goals.”

2 – Needs Improvement

Example Phrases

• Struggles with setting clear goals for personal and professional growth
• Often misses deadlines and requires additional follow-up
• Sets unrealistic goals that lead to frequent disappointments
• Shows limited motivation in pursuing and achieving goals
• Lacks a structured plan for working toward goals
• Struggles to set and meet goals consistently
• May require support in creating goals
• Shows willingness to learn and improve, but needs guidance and encouragement

Paragraph Example 1

“In this rating period, John’s performance in goal setting has demonstrated a need for improvement. He frequently struggles with setting clear and attainable goals for both his personal and professional growth. As a result, John often misses deadlines and requires additional follow-up from management to complete his tasks. In some instances, the goals he sets are unrealistic, which leads to disappointment and a negative impact on team morale. Additionally, John’s limited motivation in pursuing his goals and lack of a structured plan for achieving them hinder overall productivity and progress. Moving forward, it is essential for John to focus on refining his goal-setting skills and effectively collaborating with his team to drive success.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Tom shows potential in goal-setting but requires improvement. He struggles to consistently set and meet goals and may need support in creating objectives. With guidance and encouragement, Tom can make progress in developing his goal-setting skills.”

1 – Unacceptable

Example Phrases

• Lacks the ability to set realistic goals or create actionable plans
• Has difficulty aligning goals with company values or job expectations
• Demonstrates little to no interest in personal or professional development

Paragraph Example

“Susan’s goal-setting skills are currently unacceptable. She is unable to set realistic goals or create actionable plans and has difficulty aligning her objectives with the company’s values or her job expectations. Susan must demonstrate a greater interest in personal and professional development in order to improve her goal-setting abilities.”