Goals

Table of Contents

How should I approach giving feedback?
When should I provide feedback in Flint?

Who can see my goals?

Your manager will always have access to your goals. If a goal is set to the public, it can also be viewed by others within the organization.

What should I add as a goal?

When setting a goal, you might create a personal goal, or a goal that aligns with your organization's objectives. Consider areas where you can make a meaningful impact or where you want to grow and contribute to the team's success.

What are the different sections on the goals homepage?

  • Personal: Goals you set for yourself, which you are responsible for updating and completing by the due date.

  • Assigned: Public goals that are assigned to you for completion. Anyone can assign a goal to anyone else.

  • Following: Goals you're interested in but don’t directly contribute to. Stakeholders often follow goals to stay updated on their progress.

  • Lists: Collections of related goals. You can create your own lists or be added to others' lists. Goals can be added to lists as long as they are public.

What happens when I archive a goal?

When you archive a goal, it is removed from your active goals list. To access archived goals, simply click the "View Archived Goals" button at the top right of the goals homepage.

What does it mean to be a follower of a goal?

As a follower of a goal, you will receive notifications when the goal’s status changes, including:

  • Goal created

  • Title/description updated

  • Due date updated

  • Status updated

  • New comments

How does a goal’s status work?

You are responsible for updating the status of your goals. The available status options are:

  • Open: Use this status when a goal first created.

  • On Track: Select this when your goal is progressing as planned and is expected to be completed by the due date.

  • At Risk: Choose this if you are concerned about meeting the due date.

  • Off Track: Use this when the goal will not be completed on schedule without adjustments to scope, resources, or the due date.

  • Complete: Select this when the goal has been successfully completed.

  • Not Planned: Use this for goals that are obsolete or no longer a priority.

What is a parent goal?

A parent goal is a broad, overarching objective that includes smaller, related goals. It represents the main aim you break down into more specific tasks or milestones.

Example:

  • If your parent goal is "Improve Customer Experience," your smaller goals might include "Revamp the Support System," "Enhance User Interface," and "Train the Support Team." 

Pro-tip: The parent goal helps tie everything together and ensures that the smaller goals are aligned with the larger objective.

How many lists can a goal be added to?

A goal can be added to as many lists as needed.

Why should I tag journal entries to goals?

Tagging journal entries to goals helps you see how your work contributes to the overall objectives. It allows you to track progress and ensure your work aligns with your goals.

Is there a format I should use to write my goals?

We recommend using the SMART format:

Specific: Clearly define your goal by answering who, what, where, when, and why.

  • For instance, instead of "Improve customer service," specify "Reduce response time to customer inquiries to within 24 hours."

Measurable: Include criteria to track progress and measure success.

  • "Achieve a 10% increase in customer satisfaction scores."

Achievable: Set a realistic goal that’s attainable with your resources and abilities. Consider factors like time, skills, and tools.

  • "Enroll in a customer service training course and apply techniques learned."

Relevant: Ensure the goal aligns with broader objectives and contributes to long-term success. 

  • "Improving customer satisfaction supports the company’s mission to enhance customer experience."

Time-Bound: Set a clear deadline or timeframe for achieving the goal. 

  • "Complete the training and increase satisfaction scores by the end of Q2."

Examples of well-defined goals include:

  • Increase Team Collaboration

    • Implement bi-weekly feedback sessions

      Aim to raise team engagement scores by 10% within the next six months

  • Develop Project Management Skills

    • Complete a certification course in project management

    • Apply new techniques to two projects by the end of the year

  • Improve Code Quality

    • Introduce a new code review process

    • Implement automated testing tools

    • Aim to decrease the number of critical bugs in production by 30% within the next quarter