How to write performance
and development goals
Performance and development goals are the agreements team leaders and team members have for the coming work period.
Goals should describe the performance and development focus within a team member’s identified areas for improvement or career
aspirations.
All performance and development goals should:

begin with a verb that best describes the action to be undertaken to achieve the performance and development goal

state what a team member is expected to be able to do and/or produce as a result of engaging in their key work tasks or
working towards improving capability

describe the conditions under which the goal is to be achieved, including the timeframe.
Why have performance and development goals?
Agreeing on performance and development goals provides clarity around what is expected and how performance will be
demonstrated. The goals ensure the integrity of the performance conversations and what has been agreed.
Agreeing on performance and development goals:

focuses team members and team leaders on what is important in the coming work period

provides focus and support for career aspirations

explicitly links actions to develop capability

helps team members to self-monitor progress throughout a work period

allows the individual, school, workplace and department to achieve strategic and operational priorities.
How do I support team members to write effective performance and development goals?
Team leaders assist team members to create or shape performance and development goals. When writing performance and
development goals, team leaders and team members can use the examples below as a guide:
Begin with a verb
What team member will
know or do
How this will be
demonstrated
Under what conditions
store
school cleaning
chemicals
according to work place
health and safety
guidelines
at all times
improve
work-life balance
by working a 37.25
hour week
for 3 out of 4 weeks in the next 3 month
period
use
at least three open
questions
in every lesson
when teaching Year 8 English
Team leaders can consider the following questions in preparing to assist a team member to write performance and development
goals:

What are the priorities for the department, school and/or work unit for the coming year?

Have I considered what I believe is most important for this team member to focus on in the coming work period (both key work
tasks and their personal career aspirations)?

What does the team member want to achieve in the short term? In the long term?

Have I asked the team members to draft their own performance and development goals?

Have I provided team members with the relevant information they need to consider when drafting their performance and
development goals?