Appraisals are an important opportunity to reflect on the previous year and plan for the year ahead in the form of setting goals. Along with 1-1s, they are an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with your manager - discussing your individual wellbeing and your career aspirations, setting goals and the support you need to achieve these.
It is important that all staff have an appraisal, which is then written up in the Horizon system in a way that is manageable – capturing the key points from the appraisal discussion including your SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Timebound) goals.
The Career and Performance screens for the appraisal cycle this year will change to the Redwood user interface so your appraisal will look different. With the move to the Redwood user interface, the navigation will be easier for both appraiser and appraisee and there is additional functionality.
This year, there is the option for using AI to help appraisees write SMART goals. If using this functionality, you must check the goals to ensure they are contextualised for your role and team. They should also link to the university priorities and ensure they are sustainable and adaptable for the future.
One of your development goals should focus on completion of mandatory training and when reflecting on your development need consider the most suitable delivery method, such as mentoring or coaching.
You can find useful resources to support you with the appraisal on the People Directorate webpages. To book onto appraisal training sessions please refer to Horizon Learning
If you have any queries on appraisal, please refer to the Horizon Help Desk to search for a relevant knowledge article. If a knowledge article does not answer your query, please raise a service request within the Horizon Help Desk.
