Goal Management

The Goals feature in Manage The Day helps you set, track, and achieve personal and team objectives with automatic progress tracking and intelligent insights.

Overview

Goals in MTD are designed to help you:

• Set measurable objectives with specific timelines
• Automatically track progress through time entries
• Visualize achievement with intuitive dashboards
• Collaborate with team members on shared goals
• Receive timely updates on goal status

The Goals dashboard provides a quick overview of your active goals with summary statistics

Key Features

Goal Types

MTD supports four types of goals to match different objectives:

1. Total Time Invested

Track the total amount of time spent on specific activities.

• Example: "Spend 40 hours on project development this month"
• Use Case: Project milestones, skill development, client work

2. Time per Period

Set daily, weekly, or monthly time targets.

• Example: "Exercise for 30 minutes daily"
• Use Case: Regular habits, recurring tasks, maintenance activities

3. Frequency per Period

Track how often you perform activities.

• Example: "Conduct 3 team meetings per week"
• Use Case: Regular check-ins, routine tasks, habit building

4. Custom Numeric

Set any numeric target for flexible tracking.

• Example: "Complete 10 customer calls this week"
• Use Case: Sales targets, productivity metrics, custom KPIs

Automatic Progress Tracking

Goals automatically update based on your time entries:

• Link goals to specific pillars or activities
• Progress updates in real-time as you log time
• No manual updates required
• Historical data included for ongoing goals

Creating a Goal

Step 1: Basic Information

1. Navigate to Goals from the main menu
2. Click "Create New Goal"
3. Fill in the basic details:
   • Goal Name: Clear, descriptive title
   • Description: Detailed explanation of what you want to achieve
   • Goal Type: Select from the four types above
   • Target Value: Your numeric objective

Step 2: Timeline & Assignment

1. Set the goal timeline:

   • Start Date: When tracking begins
   • End Date: Your deadline
   • Use date presets for quick selection (This Week, This Month, etc.)

2. Assign the goal:

   • Personal Goal: Assign to yourself
   • Team Goal: Assign to team members
   • Multiple Assignees: For collaborative goals

Step 3: Link Activities

1. Choose what to track:

   • Specific Pillars: High-level categories (Work, Health, Learning)
   • Individual Activities: Detailed activities within pillars
   • Multiple Selections: Track across various activities

2. Review and create:

   • Verify all settings
   • Click "Create Goal"
   • Goal begins tracking immediately

Managing Goals

Goal Dashboard

Access your goals overview from the dashboard:

• Active Goals: Current goals with progress bars
• Goal Statistics: Success rate, trends, insights
• Quick Actions: Update, view details, add status updates

The main Goals page shows all your goals with their current status and progress

Goal Details Page

Each goal has a comprehensive details page with three main sections:

Navigation Structure

Goal pages use a tab-based navigation system:

• /goals/[goalId] automatically redirects to the overview tab
• /goals/[goalId]/overview - Main goal information and progress tracking
• /goals/[goalId]/sessions - Time entry management and session tracking
• /goals/[goalId]/activity - Complete goal history and timeline

Detailed view showing the three-tab structure for comprehensive goal management

Overview Tab

Main goal information and progress tracking:

• Visual progress bar with percentage
• Current vs. target comparison
• Time remaining and projected completion
• Enhanced date display showing both creation and start dates
• Smart weekly progress for year-long goals
• Goal status with color-coded indicators

Date Information:

• Created Date: Shows when the goal was first created with helpful tooltips
• Started Date: Automatically set when you log your first time entry
• Hover tooltips: Display exact dates when you hover over "created recently" or "started recently"

Sessions Tab

Dedicated time entry management:

• View all time entries contributing to this goal
• Attach or detach existing sessions to/from the goal
• Filter and search through sessions
• Session duration and activity details
• Progress contribution from each session

Activity Tab

Complete goal history timeline:

• Visual timeline of all goal-related activities
• Goal creation, status changes, and updates
• Time entries logged for the goal
• User actions and team member interactions
• Chronological activity feed with timestamps
• Rich activity details with context

Goal Status

Goals automatically update their status based on progress:

• Not Started: No progress recorded yet
• On Track: Making expected progress (green)
• At Risk: Behind schedule but recoverable (yellow)
• Off Track: Significantly behind (red)
• Achieved: Target met or exceeded (blue)
• Missed: Deadline passed without completion

Team Goals

Creating Team Goals

1. Select "Team Goal" during creation
2. Search and select team members
3. Set individual or collective targets
4. Choose visibility settings

Collaboration Features

• Shared Progress: See team members' contributions
• Comments: Discuss progress and challenges
• Notifications: Updates when teammates make progress
• Leaderboards: Friendly competition for motivation

Following Goals

Stay updated on goals that matter:

1. Click "Follow" on any goal
2. Receive notifications for:
   • Status changes
   • Significant progress updates
   • Comments and discussions
   • Achievement celebrations

Key Features

Automatic Start Date Detection

Goals get smarter about when you actually begin working:

• No need to manually set a start date upfront
• As soon as you log your first time entry for a goal, the start date automatically updates
• Shows both "Created" and "Started" dates in the goal header
• Helpful for tracking the gap between planning and execution

Enhanced Date Display

Better date information with helpful context:

• "Created X ago" with tooltip showing exact creation date
• "Started X ago" with tooltip showing exact start date (if applicable)
• Hover over any date reference to see the precise date and time
• Clear visual distinction between creation and start dates

Smart Weekly Progress for Long-Term Goals

Intelligent progress calculation for year-long goals:

• For goals lasting months or a full year with weekly targets
• Progress calculation considers how much time has actually elapsed
• Shows whether you're on track based on current week position vs. total timeline
• Prevents misleading progress percentages early in long-term goals

Comprehensive Activity History

Full timeline of everything that happens with your goal:

• Goal creation and initial setup
• First time entry logged (auto start date)
• Status changes and updates
• Session attachments and modifications
• Team member interactions (for shared goals)
• Visual timeline with clear timestamps and context

Best Practices

Setting Effective Goals

1. Be Specific: Clear, measurable targets
2. Set Realistic Targets: Achievable but challenging
3. Choose Appropriate Timeframes: Not too short or too long
4. Link Relevant Activities: Ensure accurate tracking
5. Let Start Dates Auto-Set: Focus on execution, not perfect planning
6. Regular Review: Check all three tabs (Overview, Sessions, Activity) weekly

Goal Categories

Organize goals effectively:

• Professional Development: Skills, certifications, learning
• Project Milestones: Deliverables, deadlines, outcomes
• Health & Wellness: Exercise, meditation, breaks
• Team Objectives: Collaborative targets, shared KPIs
• Personal Growth: Habits, hobbies, balance

Using the Three-Tab System

Maximize your goal management:

• Overview: Daily progress checks and status updates
• Sessions: Weekly review of time allocation and session management
• Activity: Monthly reflection on goal journey and team collaboration
• Use direct URLs to share specific views with team members

Common Use Cases

For Individuals

Work-Life Balance

• Goal: "Maintain 8-hour workdays"
• Type: Time per Period (Daily)
• Track: All work-related activities

Skill Development

• Goal: "Complete 20 hours of online courses monthly"
• Type: Total Time Invested
• Track: Learning/Training activities

Health Goals

• Goal: "Exercise 3 times per week"
• Type: Frequency per Period
• Track: Exercise/Fitness activities

For Teams

Sprint Commitments

• Goal: "Complete 160 hours of development this sprint"
• Type: Total Time Invested
• Track: Development activities
• Assign: Development team members

Client Engagement

• Goal: "Conduct weekly client check-ins"
• Type: Frequency per Period
• Track: Client meeting activities
• Assign: Account managers

Team Productivity

• Goal: "Reduce meeting time by 20%"
• Type: Time per Period (Weekly)
• Track: Meeting activities
• Compare with previous periods

Tips for Success

1. Start Small

• Begin with 2-3 focused goals
• Master the system before expanding
• Build momentum with early wins

2. Review Regularly

• Check dashboard weekly
• Adjust targets if needed
• Celebrate achievements

3. Use Automatic Tracking

• Properly categorize time entries
• Link all relevant activities
• Let the system work for you

4. Engage Your Team

• Share goals for accountability
• Comment and encourage others
• Create team challenges

5. Learn from Data

• Analyze successful goals
• Identify patterns and obstacles
• Refine future goal setting

Troubleshooting

Goal Not Updating

• Ensure time entries are properly categorized
• Check if activities are linked to the goal
• Verify date ranges match
• Refresh the page to see latest data
• Check the Sessions tab to see if time entries are being tracked

Start Date Not Auto-Setting

• Verify time entries are linked to the correct activity
• Ensure the goal is tracking the same activity/pillar as your time entries
• Check that time entries have valid "from" timestamps
• The start date updates when you log the first qualifying time entry

Incorrect Progress Calculation

• Review linked activities in the goal settings
• Check time entry dates match the goal timeline
• For weekly goals spanning long periods, verify the smart progress calculation
• Use the Activity tab to see detailed progress history

Navigation Issues

• If goal pages don't load properly, ensure the URL format is correct
• Direct /goals/[goalId] links automatically redirect to overview
• Use the tab navigation to switch between Overview, Sessions, and Activity
• Browser back/forward buttons work with tab navigation

Can't Create Goals

• Verify you have necessary permissions
• Check organization plan limits
• Ensure all required fields are filled
• Try refreshing the browser
• Contact support if goal creation consistently fails

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I modify a goal after creation? A: Yes, you can edit goal details, extend deadlines, and adjust targets as needed. Use the "Edit Goal" button in the goal header.

Q: When does the start date get automatically set? A: The start date is automatically set when you log your first time entry that contributes to the goal. You can see this in the Activity tab timeline.

Q: How far back does historical data count? A: Goals include relevant time entries from their start date, even if the goal was created later. Check the Sessions tab to see all contributing time entries.

Q: Can I manually change the auto-set start date? A: Yes, you can edit the goal and manually adjust the start date if needed, even after it's been automatically set.

Q: Can I pause a goal? A: While you can't pause, you can extend the deadline or add status updates explaining breaks. Use the Activity tab to document pause periods.

Q: Do deleted time entries affect goals? A: Yes, deleting time entries will reduce goal progress accordingly. You can see the impact in the Sessions tab and Activity timeline.

Q: Can I export goal data? A: Yes, use the Reports section to export goal progress and analytics. The Activity tab also provides a comprehensive view for manual reporting.

Q: What's the difference between Created and Started dates? A: Created date is when you first set up the goal. Started date is when you actually began working on it (first time entry). Both show in the goal header with helpful tooltips.

Quick Start Guide

1. Create Your Goal: Set up basic information and timeline
2. Link Activities: Connect relevant activities for automatic tracking
3. Start Working: Log your first time entry to auto-set the start date
4. Monitor Progress: Use the Overview tab for daily progress checks
5. Manage Sessions: Use the Sessions tab to organize time entries
6. Review History: Use the Activity tab for comprehensive goal reflection

Ready to set your first goal? Create a Goal → (opens in a new tab)

Need help? Check our video tutorials (opens in a new tab) or contact support.