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Objectives

4 replies

UglyJumper · 03/10/2022 07:39

My line manager cannot think of 3 objectives for me for the year ahead. I don't care because after 6 years of giving my all to this job, I have realised that no matter what I do or how I perform, I am still going to have the same job title, grade and salary. It has taken me this long to realise and I no longer have the motivation to keep proving myself. In the past, I have come up with objectives that I designed to prove how amazing and committed I am. I have achieved this through not taking a lunchbreak and working many many unpaid hours at home. I am no longer prepared to do this. Line manager has suggested one objective that will require me to put in considerable extra time for me to achieve. How do I explain that I feel that's an extra task, and not an objective? I mean, where does this end, if they can just keep piling on objective after objective without giving anything in return?

Of course the best thing would be to move on at this point, but DC are still little and this is a term time only job, so it suits me for now. So I am in a dead end job for convenience, basically.

OP posts:
Princessglittery · 03/10/2022 13:48

Dos your line manager understand what objectives are? They are not about doing ridiculous hours to prove yourself they are supposed to be about doing your job possibly with some stretch I.e. development.

This is what CIPD says
Objectives or goals are a powerful motivating tool that helps improve performance. They can be expressed as KPIs, ongoing quality standards or tasks to be completed by specified dates. In either case, they should be based on a full understanding of what constitutes good performance (see above).

Employees must be bought into and committed to their objectives for them to be effective. But contrary to popular opinion, it is not generally better for employees to set their own goals.

Usually, objectives are most effective if they centre on specific outcomes and are stretching. This is often described as ‘SMART’ (typically, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). However, research shows that this is not always the case. For complex tasks – for example, which involve analysing information before making decisions and acting – it’s usually better to focus on learning outcomes (how you will improve or develop), or even vaguer objectives to ‘do one’s best’. And for jobs that are heavily reliant on teamwork, it can be more effective to focus objectives on behaviours.

Performance can be defined at an individual, a team level, or a mixture of both. Where collaboration is important in carrying out tasks, or responsibility for results is shared, it makes sense to focus on team performance. If striking a balance between individual and team objectives, employers should be careful that they do not undermine each other.

You need to think about applying for jobs as it sounds like you have reached the point where the job is not giving you anything back.

UglyJumper · 04/10/2022 07:58

Thank you @Princessglittery, I appreciate your detailed response and it is very helpful. Without a doubt I have taken this job as far as it can go; it is clear I am not going to be promoted, ever, or be plaid less, so whilst I have no motivation to take on more tasks, I am also quite happy to continue ticking along as the whole set up is convenient for me right now.

OP posts:
OOAOML · 04/10/2022 08:30

A couple of years ago, after endless stress caused by insane reorganisations, I suggested an objective of maintaining personal resilience and work-life balance. It was meant to be a dig but my manager loved it.

Princessglittery · 04/10/2022 09:18

@UglyJumper then just write objectives that keep you ticking along. @OOAOML has some good suggestions.

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