Performance Management

FY26 Performance Management

Performance management provides staff and managers dedicated time to reflect on progress, clarify expectations, and discuss priorities and potential career paths. Performance management is intended to foster staff member’s individual success, to engage managers in the development of their staff, and to support the priorities and goals of each HLC school.

Performance management is comprised of two basic parts:

  • Continuous coaching conversations throughout the year
  • Tracking highlights from ongoing conversations, setting priorities and goals, and summarizing themes at the end of the academic year

The Universities Philosophy on Performance Management provides a consistent framework for managing performance and development.  An introductory module, Succeeding Together: Harvard’s Philosophy of Performance and Development, is available to help you integrate and apply this new philosophy.

There are two enhanced, user-friendly training modules that are available offering a vibrant and impactful learning experience. Optimized with links and resources, these brief modules provide essential guidance on the philosophy and practical strategies for putting it into practice. You can easily access either module based on your interests and needs:

  • Micro Module 1 offers foundational insights to enrich your understanding of the philosophy and guiding principles, and how they relate to you in support of your career development.
  • Micro Module 2 offers a deeper dive into how to put the philosophy and process into practice, with practical examples and resources.

For general information about Harvard’s annual planning cycle and available resources visit:

Using PeopleSoft ePerformance

The performance management process, including goal/priorities setting and annual reviews, will be documented in PeopleSoft. To access performance management materials in PeopleSoft:

  • Staff access: From the PeopleSoft dashboard, click on the My Performance tile, and then select “Annual Review”  with a begin date of  7/1/25. Click on the different tabs–Instructions, Goals/Priorities, Mid-Year, Annual, Competencies, and Feedback–to familiarize yourself with the available options. Enter your FY26 goals into the  Goals tab.
  • Manager access: From the PeopleSoft dashboard, click on the Team Performance tile, and then on the staff member’s name with a begin date of  7/1/25.
  • Annual reviews are set up for staff hired before December 1 for HSPH and January 1 for HMS and HSDM. Employees hired January-June will have an orientation review at the 90-day mark. Contact your HR office if you do not see a review you think should be in the system.
  • Harvard Chan School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard School of Dental Medicine:  Will use the “Ratings” option for the FY26 performance conversations so please be sure to select that option in the picklist.

Goal/Priorities Setting

Goal/Priorities Setting Handout

SMART Goals/Priorities Handout

Goal/Priorities Setting Tips and Steps Video

Recording of Performance Management: Goals/Priorities Setting

Goal/Priorities Setting Slides from Presentation

HLC Performance Management Goals/Priorities Session Slides

 

Performance Rating Guidance

Resources and Job Aids

Online Resources

LinkedIn Learning Resources

Harvard ManageMentor Learning Resources

– Top –

 

HLC FY26 Timeline

Date

Description
September – November 30, 2025 Goal/Priorities Setting & Planning (all documents are due)

Due Dates:
September 30, 2025 – HSDM
November 30, 2025 – SPH and HMS
December 2025 – February 2026 Informal Interim Check-in Discussions.  Use this time to discuss and implement any adjustments to goals/priorities content and/or due date
March – April 2026 Employee completes self-evaluation and identifies reviewers, and manager completes assessment complete with ratings for FY26 after reviewing feedback and goals/priorities

Watch for Manager and Staff workshops, Preparing for the Performance Discussion.
May – August 2025 Completed Performance Assessments Due (timing will vary for some departments)

Due Date: May 31, 2026 for SPH, June 30, 2026 for HSDM, and August 31, 2026 for HMS