Achieve your goals with greytHR Performance Management

Updated in January - 2026 | Subscribe to watch greytHR how-to video

The Performance Management System (PMS) is a strategic feature designed to enhance performance and align it with the company's objectives. It integrates individual goals with the company's strategy.

Goal plans are a critical component of PMS, acting as a roadmap to help align employees' efforts with the company's objectives.

The Goal Plans page in the ESS portal allows you as an employee to set clear, measurable goals that drive your success. These goals serve as benchmarks to evaluate your performance, provide ongoing feedback, and support your growth through performance appraisals. They also help you identify opportunities for training and development, ensuring continuous improvement on your career journey.

You can perform the following actions on the Goal Plans page:

1. Create goals and send them for approval

2. Create goals using Goals Library

3. Update your goals

4. View Important Goal Plan Dates

Refer to the table for goal plan statuses and the actions needed at each stage.

Create goals and send them for approval

As employees, you create goals for the goal plans your managers design and then submit them for approval. You can view the status of goals on the goal plan card. Goal plans with an Unassigned status indicate that you need to create goals. 

To create goals and send for approval, perform the following actions:

1. From the greytHR ESS portal, navigate to Performance Management > Goal Plan. The Goal Plan page opens.

2. Select the required goal plan. The Unassigned status on the goal plan means that the goals still need to be assigned and you must add the goals.

3. Click Get Started. The selected goal plan opens.
   Note: You can create new goals by clicking the Create Goal button or assign goals for the configured goal plan.

4. Under the Draft Goals section:

   1. Double-click the Category dropdown list to select the required category.  

   2. Double-click the Enter goal here text box to add a goal for the selected employee.

   3. Double-click the Weightage text box to add weightage.
      Note: You must ensure to classify your goals to match the weightage equivalent to 100.

   4. Double-click the Enter milestone here text box to add a milestone for the goal.
      Note: Milestones are small, achievable tasks for each goal. The progress of the goal is achieved by tracking the progress of the milestones. You can enter multiple milestones based on the goals. 

   5. Double-click the Weightage text box to add weightage to the milestone. You must ensure, to sum up the milestone weightage to 100.

   6. Click Send for Approval. The Send for Approval pop-up appears.

   7. In the Remarks text box, add the remarks.

   8. Click Confirm. A success message appears and the status Draft Goals changes to Pending for Approval Goals.

Note: 

• You can delete the goal by clicking the Delete icon available on each goal row.

• You cannot edit the goals that are sent for approval.

• After sending the goals for your manager’s approval, you can withdraw them by clicking the Withdraw button. Once withdrawn, the status of Pending for Approval Goals changes to Draft Goals. The status of the goal plan on the Goal Plans page also changes to Pending Approval.

• The Check-in 🗨️ icon available on each goal row directs you to the Check-in tab to add your thoughts or messages about the goal.

• Click the ↗ icon available on each goal row to check the Activity Log of that goal.

Create goals using Goals Library

Adding goals using the Goals Library makes it easy for you to explore available goal groups and select or customize goals based on your role and responsibilities. 

To create goals using the Goals Library, on the Goals Plan page, select the required goal plan and click Get Started.

Click Add Goal, then use the + Add option to pick a goal group. You can also expand the group to select individual goals if needed, and select accordingly.
Note:
1. You can search for a goal group using the search bar.
2. If the required goal group is not present, then you can create the goals using the + Create Blank Goal option.

Once the goals are added, you can send them for approval. 

Update your goals

As employees, you create goals for your goal plans and submit them for approval. You can view the status of goals on the goal plan card. Goal plans with an Unassigned status indicate that you need to create goals. 

To update your goals, perform the following actions:

1. From the greytHR ESS portal, navigate to Performance Management > Goal Plan. The Goal Plan page opens.

2. Select the required goal plan. The Assigned status on the goal plan card indicates that the goals are approved. 

3. Click View Plan. The selected goal plan opens.

4. Under the Assigned Goals section, click the ↗ icon. The selected goal opens and displays information such as the Status, Progress, Weightage, and Assigned to.

5. Under Milestones, use the Progress bar to update the status of the goal. 

Note: 

• The Check-in tab allows you to add your thoughts or messages about the goal.

• The Activity Log tab displays all the actions taken to reach the goal.

View important Goal Plan dates

You can track deadlines more effectively. Key dates of the goal plan are now displayed on every goal plan card in ESS under My Plans.

The page displays:

• Set Goals By – The last date to create or edit goals. The Set Goals By is shown from the goal plan’s activation date until the goal creation/edit deadline passes.

• Update Progress By – The last date to update progress or check in. After this deadline, the label automatically changes to Update Progress By.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Performance Management System (PMS)?

The Performance Management System (PMS) helps align individual performance with the company’s overall objectives. It connects employee goals with organizational strategy and supports continuous performance improvement.

What is a Goal Plan?

A Goal Plan is a structured roadmap within PMS that helps you define, track, and achieve your performance goals. It ensures your efforts are aligned with company objectives and supports performance reviews and appraisals.

Where can I view and manage my goal plans?

You can view and manage your goal plans from the greytHR ESS portal by navigating to:
Performance Management > Goal Plan

What actions can I perform on the Goal Plans page?

On the Goal Plans page, you can:

• Create goals and send them for approval

• Create goals using the Goals Library

• Update progress on approved goals

• View goal plan status and important deadlines

When can I create goals for a goal plan?

You can create goals when:

• The goal plan status is Unassigned

• Your admin has given you permission to create goals
  If not, you must wait for your manager to assign goals to you.

How do I create goals and send them for approval?

To create goals:

1. Go to Performance Management > Goal Plan in ESS

2. Select the required goal plan with Unassigned status

3. Click Get Started

4. Click Create Goal or assign goals

5. Enter Category, Goal description, Goal weightage (total must be 100). Milestones and milestone weightage (must total 100)

6. Click Send for Approval, add remarks, and confirm

What are milestones in a goal?

Milestones are smaller, achievable tasks under a goal. They help track progress and ensure steady movement towards goal completion.

What is the weightage requirement for goals and milestones?

• Total goal weightage must equal 100

• Total milestone weightage under each goal must also equal 100

Can I edit or delete goals after sending them for approval?

• You cannot edit goals once they are sent for approval

• You can delete goals only before sending them for approval

• You can withdraw goals sent for approval, which moves them back to Draft status

What happens when I withdraw goals sent for approval?

• The goal status changes from Pending for Approval to Draft

• You can edit and resubmit the goals for approval

What is the Check-in option used for?

The Check-in 🗨️ icon allows you to add comments, updates, or thoughts related to a goal. This helps maintain continuous communication about goal progress.

What is the Activity Log in a goal?

The Activity Log shows all actions taken on a goal, such as creation, updates, submissions, and approvals. It helps track the history of the goal.

What is the Goals Library?

The Goals Library provides predefined goal groups that you can select based on your role and responsibilities. You can use them as-is or customize them.

How do I create goals using the Goals Library?

To use the Goals Library:

1. Open the required goal plan and click Get Started

2. Click Add Goal

3. Use + Add to select a goal group or individual goals

4. Search for goal groups if needed

5. If no suitable group is available, use + Create Blank Goal

6. Send the added goals for approval

When can I update my goals?

You can update goals only when:

• The goal plan status is Assigned

• The goals are approved by your manager

How do I update progress on approved goals?

To update progress:

1. From the greytHR ESS portal go to Performance Management > Goal Plan

2. Select a goal plan with Assigned status and click View Plan.

3. Open a goal using the ↗ icon

4. Update progress using the milestone progress bar

Can I add comments while updating goal progress?

Yes. You can use the Check-in tab to add comments or updates while working on your goals.

Where can I see important goal plan deadlines?

Important dates are displayed on each goal plan card under My Plans in ESS.

Other related links:

• Leverage performance reviews for self-assessment and feedback

• Utilize Engage module to break the routine and boost engagement

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