This is the second in a two-part Business English Pod series on performance appraisals interviews. In the first lesson, we covered giving feedback. In this podcast, we will discuss setting goals.

To reach our dreams, it’s necessary to set goals. Without goals, there is no change, no development, no success. This is just as true for an individual as it is for an organization. That’s why, along with feedback, goal setting is a very important part of the appraisal process. So in this follow-up podcast on job appraisals, we’ll be focusing on strategies and expressions for setting goals during the appraisal interview. Much of the language we’ll be learning in this lesson is also useful in any meeting where we need to discuss and set targets.

Wendy and Derrick, Wendy’s manager, have already discussed her progress and set goals for the areas of customer satisfaction and job training. As the listening continues, they turn to talking about two important productivity measurements. Pay attention to the language Derrick uses to structure the conversation and to negotiate and agree goals with Wendy.

Premium Members (Sign up):		Online activities (Members / Free Trial)
Study Notes	Phrases & Practice	BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Quiz BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Gap-fill BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Dialog & Vocab BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Language 1 BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Language 2 BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Language 3 BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2 – Flashcards

Listening Questions: BEP 76 ADV – Performance Appraisals 2: Setting Goals

1) What are the two important productivity measurements that Derrick discusses with Wendy?

The first is the number of meetings that Wendy handles per day, that is, the number of customers she helps. The second is the average amount of time she spends on each meeting.

2) How does Derrick feel about Wendy making one-off (or special) solutions for each customer?

Derrick discourages Wendy from making one-off solutions because doing so causes efficiency to go down. He would much rather she be “steady and consistent” than spend a lot of time on any particular meeting.

3) What does Derrick advise Wendy to tell a customer who has not booked enough bandwidth?

Derrick tells her to be “polite but firm.” He encourages her to give the customer an option – either rebook or hold the meeting now with less bandwidth.