It’s still early in the year, which means your Workday profile has been reset, and you have the pesky notification asking you to input your goals for 2026. I am hopeful we can all agree that taking time to actually put in goals is just as ridiculous as coming up with them. Oh, and I can’t forget – we have to meet with our supervisors at some point to discuss the goals because they are also humans and have to tell their boss they made time to meet with you.
With AI knocking at our doors, it is such a fun time to know ChatGPT is just around the corner to help. Unless, you know, you aren’t allowed to use ChatGPT on NIPR… and then you have to get… creative… and pray CSOC isn’t monitoring.
5 Goals for a Successful Year
Allow me to take some pressure off you. Here are five goals (ChatGPT did not help me with this) that are generic yet oddly specific enough that they just might actually work.
Good goals are generally centered on compliance, quality, security, performance, and continuous improvement.
1. Compliance & Security
Complete all required training on time. You will maintain adherence to all company policies while demonstrating proper handling of sensitive and classified information. Now, you might not think this is very creative, and I agree, it is a bit of an eye roll. But I am going to let you in on a secret: these goals are just to check a box that you said you would do. Do you plan to complete your training and behave when handling classified materials? Duh. So, why not make it a goal so you can check the box?
2. Quality & Accuracy
Deliver high-quality and accurate work that meets contractual and technical standards. You can measure this by having positive outcomes for quality audits and markings that meet or exceed quality benchmarks. You’re starting to understand… right? These aren’t creative goals. There was no time dedicated to this. This is something you’re already going to do. So, let’s make it a goal!
3. Productivity
Complete assigned tasks while meeting deadlines and supporting program schedules and objectives. You can measure this by managing your workload with minimal supervision. Fun fact: if you incorporate your boss into one of your goals, you can establish boundaries and micromanagement.
4. Process Improvement
Identify and support continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risk. You can measure this by providing your boss with one documented improvement idea. Fun fact: doesn’t matter if they adopt your idea or not. The goal is to SUPPORT continuous improvement. Send them an idea and check this bad boy off the list.
5. Team Collaboration
Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to support the program’s goals and objectives. You can measure this by being an active participation in meetings. This is the easiest one in the book. Come off mute. Humm and Haww a bit, then head to Workday, put the meeting date, and write that you collaborated. Checkmate.
And there you have it. Since you can’t put what your ACTUAL goal is, aka, “get a raise this year,” why not make goals that you are going to achieve regardless? Work smarter, not harder.
