This site is designed to assist Drake University managers and employees as they set and work toward goals within the university performance management program. These resources are intended to supplement the information Human Resources has already provided. Resources are separated into the following broad categories:
Successful Goals Programs, Writing SMART Goals, Helping Employees Succeed, and Resources Consulted in Developing the Drake Performance Appraisal System.

Successful Goals Programs

The University of Pennsylvania Performance and Staff Development Program (html)
This site shows the way another institution of higher education, The University of Pennsylvania, has implemented a similar employee goal setting program and includes additional tips and examples to help craft good goals.

Rausch, Erwin. "How to Make a Goals Program Successful." Training & Development Journal vol. 34, no. 3, (March 1980): 24-28.
This article offers advice on the successful implementation of goals programs, focusing on eight critical areas managers must consider when planning. Available electronically from the Drake campus by selecting Business Source Premier and then appropriate journal issue.

Wilson, Susan B. Goal Setting. (ebook) (New York: American Management Association, 1994).
This book provides advice on setting and attaining your own goals and helping those you supervise do the same. (Note: at this time, this resource can only be accessed from on campus.)

Laying the Groundwork
Consultant Lynn Summers has written a three-part series of articles with solid advice on preparing to write goals. It includes You've Got the Power: Using Goal-Driven Performance Management to Empower (Word), Preparing for a Goal-Setting Discussion: To-do's for the Manager and the Direct Report (Word), and Conducting a Successful Goal-Setting Discussion: A Manager's Checklist (Word).

Writing SMART Goals

Goals Grid (html)
In this article, management consultant Fred Nickols (html) presents and explains his "Goals Grid," a tool for clarifying goals and objectives and exploring their relationships with other organizational activities and entities.

Writing Good Work Objectives (html)
Another article from management consultant Fred Nickols (html) wherein he explains the components of well-written work objectives, (what we are calling "goals" in the context of employee evaluation), suggests broad sources for developing objectives, discusses factors influencing the decision of who should write the objectives, considers ways to make objectives measureable, and recommends a process for writing work objectives.

Writing Measurable Objectives/Goals (html)
This training module on writing measurable objectives (what we are calling "goals" in the context of employee evaluation), presents examples and suggestions for writing SMART objectives and gives the user a chance to write practice objectives and then compare them to sample answers. This was prepared by the American College and Research Libraries Instruction Section of the American Library Association.

A Handbook for Measuring Employee Performance: Aligning Employee Performance Plans with Organizational Goals. (pdf)
This handbook, created by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, includes much information applicable to Drake's program. Chapter 3 in particular discusses establishing goals via goal cascading, prioritizing work objectives, and determining how to measure and monitor performance. There is also a text-only version (html) available.

Smith, Douglas K. Make Success Measurable: A Mindbook-Workbook for Setting Goals and Taking Action. (New York: Wiley, 1999).
This how-to book offers practical advice and exercises on setting measurable goals in the workplace and achieving them. It is owned by Cowles Library (HF5549.5 .G6 S647 1999). Check the library catalog for availability.

Action Verbs for Goals List One (html) and List Two (html)
These two lists suggest verbs that may be useful in writing goals. (The first list also provides definitions.)

Possible Measurements for SMART Goal Setting (pdf)
Central Michigan University offers these suggestions for performance measures.

Performance Standards (html)
Part of the University of California, San Francisco's Guide to Managing Human Resources (html), the end of this brief chapter discusses the characteristics of good performance standards, as well as ways to express the standard in writing and measure performance.

Helping Employees Succeed

Performance Management (html)
Part of the University of California, San Francisco's Guide to Managing Human Resources (html), the beginning of this short chapter advises managers on what to do after goals are established. It discusses ongoing coaching (both providing positive feedback and improving performance) and more formal performance appraisal.

Craumer, Martha. "How to Coach Your Employees." Harvard Management Communication Letter vol. 4, no. 12 (December 2001): 9-11.
This article presents seven guidelines for coaching employees and also notes six skills for effective coaching. Available electronically from the Drake campus by selecting Business Source Premier and then appropriate journal issue.

Coaching for Improved Performance (html)
Consultant Robin Nitschke (html) explains how to provide employees with feedback using a coaching model to improve performance.

Ten Keys for Successfully Coaching Employees (html)
Consultant Mark Campbell (html) offers ten recommendations to help managers develop their coaching skills.

Landes, Les. "Getting the Best Out of People in the Workplace." Journal for Quality & Participation vol. 29, no. 4 (Winter 2006): 27-29.
This article suggests ways managers can create an environment to encourage employees to give their best and optimize their performance. Available electronically from the Drake campus by selecting Academic Search Premier and then the appropriate journal issue.

Basics about Employee Motivation - Including Steps You Can Take (html)
Consultant Carter McNamara (html) presents myths and principles of employee motivation and then suggests 14 specific steps managers can take to support employee motivation.

Ten Tips for the Leader About Building Employee Motivation and Morale at Work (html)
Consultant Susan Heathfield (html) suggests ten actions managers can take to help build morale and motivation in the workplace.

Miller, Brian Cole. Keeping Employees Accountable for Results: Quick Tips for Busy Managers. (New York: AMACOM, 2006).
This book offers a step-by-step approach to encouraging "employee and team productivity through accountability." Stages include: set expectations, invite commitment, measure results, provide feedback, link to consequences, and evaluate effectiveness. It is owned by Cowles Library (HF5549.5 .P35 M55 2006). Check the library catalog for availability.

Mullins, Anthony. Conquering Goals: The Battle Plan (html)
This brief article presents four steps to setting and attaining goals: 1) identify the goal, creating a plan to achieve the goal, putting the plan into action, and celebrating successes.

Whitten, Neal. "Boosting Your Own Performance." Training and Development vol. 49, no. 7 (July 1995): 45-48.
This article suggests ways that employees can increase their performance by setting and adhering to goals, maximizing time, and practicing empowerment at work. Available electronically from the Drake campus by selecting Academic Search Premier and then appropriate journal issue.

Anderson, Kristin, and Ron Zemke. Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service. (ebook) (New York: Amacom, 2002).
This very readable book on ensuring outstanding service may be a useful source of ideas and measurements to incorporate into goals, especially for those providing frontline customer service. (Note: at this time, ebooks can only be accessed from on campus.)

Zemke, Ron, and Kristin Anderson. Coaching Knock Your Socks Off Service. (ebook) (New York: Amacom, 1997).
The companion to Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service suggests ways managers can act as coaches, helping to improve their employees' performance. It covers such topics as developing high-performing individuals, building confidence, and addressing difficult situations.

Resources Consulted in Developing the Drake Performance Appraisal System

The following lists selective resources consulted in the development of the performance management project at Drake. Unless otherwise noted, they are available via Interlibrary Loan.