You will benefit from a PDR, even if you are at the top of your salary range, as it will:
- ensure there is a mutual understanding of work requirements and conditions between you and your manager
- allow you to discuss development opportunities and career development.
If you and your department head are happy to simply reconfirm your understanding of your role, the PDR needn't be a long conversation and can be used to tweak aspects of your work (hours, operational improvements etc). If you're keen to develop your career further, the PDR can provide a platform for discussion of upcoming departmental needs, or staff development opportunities, that might assist you to progress within the University.
Examples of this are:
- Building mentoring skills by developing other staff within the department
- Learning new areas of specialisation and skills
- Taking on a leadership role in projects within the department
- Bringing skills and knowledge to the wider university by participating in university-wide committees
- Taking courses, papers, attending conferences or seminars
- Secondments
- Job shadowing
- Job exchange
Setting objectives will require a plan which can be discussed as part of your PDR. Completing a PDR will be a way of making sure you have the time to implement these strategies.