Exceeds expectations
- Met every weighted goal in the cycle, including the two stretch targets set beyond the plan.
- Delivered the highest-weighted goal fully, so the score reflects real impact, not easy wins padded out.
- Tracks progress against each goal through the cycle, so a shortfall is caught with time to recover.
- Renegotiated a goal that a market shift made impossible, and delivered the revised one in full.
- Turned a vague target into a measurable goal at the start, so success was clear to both sides.
- Hit the numbers goals and the behaviour goals, not just the ones easiest to measure.
- Closed a goal that had slipped for two cycles by breaking it into monthly milestones.
- Balanced effort across all goals rather than chasing one and letting the weighted rest slide.
Meets expectations
- Meets most of the goals set for the cycle within the agreed weighting.
- Tracks progress against goals rather than checking only at cycle end.
- Flags early when a goal is at risk so it can be adjusted.
- Sets clear, measurable goals with the manager at the start of the cycle.
- Delivers the higher-weighted goals rather than only the easy ones.
- Keeps effort spread across goals instead of dropping the harder ones.
- Adjusts a goal sensibly with the manager when circumstances change.
- Closes goals to standard, not just to the letter of the target.
Needs improvement
- Meets the easy, low-weighted goals but lets the higher-weighted ones slip.
- Checks progress only at cycle end, so a shortfall is found too late to fix.
- Sets vague goals at the start, so success is arguable at review time.
- Chases one goal and lets the others slide, unbalancing the weighted result.
- Waits until the deadline to flag a goal at risk, leaving no time to recover.
- Delivers goals to the letter but misses the intent behind them.
- Treats goals as a formality rather than a plan for the cycle.
- Blames outside factors for a missed goal without having flagged the risk earlier.
Self-review phrases
- I track progress against each weighted goal through the cycle now, not just at the end.
- I delivered the highest-weighted goal fully rather than padding the score with easy wins.
- I want to flag a goal at risk early so there is time to recover.
- I broke a long-slipping goal into monthly milestones and finally closed it.
Tips for writing this feedback
- Judge goal achievement against the weighted goals set for the cycle, so the score reflects impact, not easy wins.
- Check whether progress was tracked through the cycle, since goals found short only at the end cannot be recovered.
- Weigh the harder, higher-weighted goals more, and watch for scores padded with low-value targets.
- Credit a goal renegotiated fairly when circumstances changed, rather than penalising an honestly revised target.
- Look at whether goals were met to their intent, not just the letter, which can be gamed.
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How do you review goal achievement fairly?
Review it against the weighted goals set for the cycle, so the score reflects impact rather than a pile of easy wins. Check whether the higher-weighted goals were delivered, whether progress was tracked through the cycle, and whether goals at risk were flagged in time. Credit a goal fairly renegotiated when circumstances changed, and judge delivery to intent, not just the letter.
What if goals become unrealistic mid-cycle?
Adjust them openly rather than holding someone to a target a genuine shift made impossible. The fair approach is to renegotiate the goal with the manager, record the change, and judge delivery against the revised version. Penalise the person only where the miss was within their control and the risk was not flagged, not where the ground moved under a well-set goal.
Should all goals be weighted equally?
No. Weighting keeps the review honest by matching the score to what matters most. Without it, a person can hit several low-value goals and miss the one that counts, yet look successful. Set the weights with the person when goals are agreed, so both sides know where effort should go and the final rating reflects real priorities rather than sheer count.