With the 2020-21 performance appraisal process completed, you can now enter into BlueSky your 2021-22 performance goals that you developed with your manager and are currently pursuing. The timeframe for these goals is July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
Entering your performance goals into BlueSky is easy. Go to mybluesky.depaul.edu, click on the “Career and Performance" tile, click on “Goals," and then enter and save each of your goals. You also can also use this BlueSky Help walkthrough for entering goals, which will guide you through the system to help you complete your task. Once you submit your goals, you will receive a confirmation email and bell notification. The system will also notify you once your manager approves your goals.
As a reminder, DePaul recommends having three to five performance goals that align with the team, department and university goals. You should also ensure your goals follow the SMART format:
- Specific – Is the goal explicit, clear and concise?
- Measurable – Does the goal clearly state the desired outcome (quantitative or qualitative)?
- Action-oriented – Does the goal include the actions necessary to achieve the desired outcome?
- Realistic – Is the goal challenging but attainable?
- Time-bound – Does the goal have a deadline and/or progress milestones?
Defining performance goals helps to ground our work efforts as priorities shift, the unexpected happens and roadblocks pop up. Goals also help illustrate the connection to how you are contributing to something bigger. If you achieve your goals, what will the impact be on your department, on our students, on DePaul? Consider what motivates you to grow and develop professionally. What can you do to contribute to your department? What can you do this year that will build upon last year's successes? Build these ideas into your goals so that you can get excited about what you can achieve in the year to come.
Now is a good time for managers to plan ahead and schedule meetings in January or February for performance check-ins with their direct reports. Oftentimes priorities can shift during the year and having a formal meeting to discuss performance goals in the middle of the year is helpful to ensure employee and manager expectations align. If changing priorities have affected previously approved performance goals, you have the ability to edit your goals throughout the year. Simply make the change in BlueSky and submit to your manager for approval.
The 2021-22 performance appraisal cycle will officially end on June 30, 2022, which coincides with the end of the fiscal year for the university; documentation will be due to Human Resources by Sept. 1, 2022.
As always, the Workplace Learning and Performance team is here to help. Contact us at training@depaul.edu or (312) 362-8342.
Please note the performance appraisal is different for student employees. For more information about student employee performance appraisal, please contact the Office of Student Employment at (312) 362-5599 or visit the Office of Student Employment website.