Overview: Goals allow managers and learners to set objectives and tasks, and monitor these throughout an agreed time period. It is intended to be used alongside appraisals with learners, so the progress can be seen regularly. This article gives an example of how goals can be used and explains how managers can set up a goal template.
Start from: the Flow MS dashboard.
How goals can be used
- The manager assigns out a goal template after a yearly appraisal with their staff member.
- The learner updates the document with the areas they want to progress on, as agreed with their manager in the appraisal.
- Objectives and subsequent tasks are created for each 'check in' throughout the agreed time period.
- The manager agrees and signs off on the goal document.
- The learner updates their progress using the check in values set up.
- Once the goal document is complete, the manager or learner can use it to reflect on the progress made and feed it into the next appraisal.
How to set up a goal template
1. Set up Check in values
- Select Learning & Development > L&D Settings from the main menu.
- Scroll down to the Goals section and select View (the cog icon) on the Check In Values for Goals tile.
Note: you’ll see two default values: Complete 100% and Not started 0%. You can leave this as is OR you can add more values, such as Started 25%, Half-way there 50%, Almost done 75%, etc., if you’d like more visibility on your learners’ progress.
2. Create your goal template
- Select Learning & Development > L&D Settings from the main menu.
- Scroll down to the Goals section and select View (the cog icon) on the Templates for Goals tile.
- Select Add (+).
- Enter a name for your template. You can also upload a guidance document to give the learner tips on how to complete the goal, and a thumbnail image, if you wish.
- Select Save & Continue.
3. Create check-ins
Check-ins are updates on the current progress. You can set these to be weekly, monthly, quarterly, whatever suits best the goal template you’re creating.
- Enter a name for your check-in.
- Select the plus icon (+) to add as many check-ins as needed.
- Select Next when you finish.
4. Build objectives and tasks
Create objectives that will help the learner achieve their overall goal. Objectives are made up of multiple tasks, which are actions that a learner must or should take.
We recommend giving the learner the responsibility to set these, as they’re related to their own development and the goals they want to work towards. You could create basic objectives and tasks named Objective/Task 1 2, 3, etc., and leave these for the learner to complete with an appropriate title and description.
- Enter a template name for the objectives. Note: select + Add Objective to create as many objectives as needed.
- Enter a template description or leave blank for learners to complete.
- Enter a Weighting system to each objective and task. Note: this is a percentage used to track learners’ progress. The weighting system will always need to add up to 100%, so divide the percentages out as appropriate. An error will appear if the values don’t add up to 100%.
- Select the Edit, Move or Delete buttons next to each objective or task if you need to make changes.
- Select Review to see how your objectives and tasks will look like.
- Select Save Draft to keep a copy if you’re not ready for the document to be live or Publish to make the document live and accessible for managers and learners to see.