Performance Goals vs Learning Goals

Quick answer

Performance goals prove ability (hit the number); learning goals build it (master the skill) — performance for known work, learning for new work.

Performance goals

Demonstrate competence — ‘hit quota’, ‘score 90%’ — work best when the skill is already there.

Learning goals

Build competence — ‘master the new stack’, ‘learn negotiations’ — work when the skill isn’t yet.

The research

On novel tasks, learning goals outperform performance goals — proving ability before having it backfires.

Choosing

Known work → performance; novel work → learning; most careers need both alternating.

Bottom line

Performance goals prove ability (hit the number); learning goals build it (master the skill) — performance for known work, learning for new work.

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