Write It Well’s June business writing newsletter is all about writing performance objectives the SMART way is up on our site.  Here is a preview:

Determining performance objectives is the same challenge as setting clear expectations. If your objectives are clear, then your evaluation process will also be clear.

To be useful, most performance objectives should meet the five following SMART criteria by being …

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-bound

Here are some performance objectives that fail to meet the SMART criteria:

• Become familiar with the Department’s Internet Usage Policy.
• Learn the records management system.
• Be able to balance client accounts.
• Be able to prepare audit reports.

And here are some before-and-after examples of ways you could rewrite those four problematic objectives to meet the SMART criteria:

• Become familiar with the Department’s Internet Usage Policy.
• Read the Department’s Internet Usage Policy by May 17th. Be able to answer 10 out of 10 questions correctly when tested.

• Learn the records management system.
• Attend a records management class and practice using the records management system with the assistance of an experienced coworker. Given a set of records two weeks after the class, be able to store them appropriately without assistance and with no more than three errors.

• Be able to balance client accounts.
• With little or no supervision or coworker assistance, be able to balance client accounts within the time specified by your supervisor.

• Be able to prepare audit reports.
• Prepare audit reports that meet the guidelines in the Audit Report Manual. Complete assigned reports without error by 4 p.m. every first and third Thursday.