Define Your Performance Goals

Every job position confers specific responsibilities, requires particular expertise, and presents distinct challenges and opportunities.

Having a clear understanding of the tasks, behaviors, and competencies expected of you in your role is vital to ensuring your success.

A conversation about goals and expectations is an opportunity for you to collaborate with your supervisor to define the standards of performance you want to achieve and to chart a course for your own professional development objectives.

When to Establish Goals and Expectations

Having a conversation about goals and expectations when you start a new job, when you take on new responsibilities and on an annual basis will help you perform at your best and make informed decisions about your professional development objectives. New employees should schedule time with their supervisor during the first week of employment.

Goals should be developed and/or revisited at key moments in your employment journey:

  • When starting a new role (ideally within the first week)
  • When assuming new duties or responsibilities
  • During annual planning and performance review periods

Proactively scheduling these conversations ensures you have a clear understanding of what success looks like and can begin planning for growth early.

How to Develop Goals and Expectations

Use the Goals and Expectations form to discuss, clarify, and document goals and expectations. This document becomes the basis for your performance and development discussions year round.

Goals and Expectations form (PDF)

Review Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

Start by reviewing your job description, duties, and responsibilities. This is also a good time to review the UIC Competencies and consider how they apply to the work you do and how they relate to your work environment.

Have a conversation with your supervisor to discuss your job position and how the work performed contributes to department, college, unit, and campus goals.

Step 1: Review Your Role and Responsibilities

Start by reviewing your:

  • Official job description
  • Key duties and responsibilities
  • Applicable UIC Core Competencies (e.g., collaboration, accountability, adaptability)

This context helps ensure your goals reflect your role and contribute meaningfully to your unit’s objectives.

Step 2: Collaborate with Your Supervisor

Together, you and your supervisor should define performance goals that:

  • Reflect your core responsibilities
  • Support department, college, and university priorities
  • Include metrics or benchmarks for success

Goals may evolve as projects shift, priorities change, or new opportunities arise—so flexibility is encouraged. Revisit them periodically to ensure continued alignment.

Step 3: Include Development Goals

This is also an ideal time to:

  • Identify professional development needs
  • Explore relevant training, mentorship, or certifications
  • Create a career development plan using UIC resources

Define Goals and Expectations

Working with your supervisor, you will define objective performance goals that indicate successful completion of the responsibilities associated with the job position.

These Goals and Expectations may be edited or updated as needed throughout the year as changes occur or as assignments are completed.

The performance standards you and your supervisor document during this conversation serve as benchmarks to guide your performance throughout the year and form the basis of your Annual Review.

This is also a great time to discuss and determine your developmental needs, identify learning opportunities, and develop a plan for professional development and growth.

Next Steps

Once goals are established:

  • Keep them visible and refer to them in 1:1 meetings
  • Schedule periodic check-ins to review progress
  • Use them as the foundation for your Annual Performance Review