Every goal has a Goal period (the dates it covers) and a Target frequency (how often it is measured inside that period). When the target frequency is shorter than the goal period, for example a yearly goal with a Quarterly frequency, the goal is split into periods (sometimes called milestones or phases), and each period has its own target, progress and status. You set both in the Dates section of the General information step of the New goal wizard, and the period targets in the Configuration step.

Before you start

• Cascading goals (parent goals, sub-goals and the Based on sub-goals type of metric) are available on the Enterprise plan.
• You need Goals > Create key results to create a goal, or permission to edit the goal (Goals > Manage key results) to change it.
• Decide whether you need one target for the whole period or one target per month, quarter or half-year.
• If the goal is or will be part of an active incentive plan, has a weight, or is linked to a parent measured Based on sub-goals, its period and frequency are locked after creation. Set them correctly from the start.

Step by step

Set the goal period and target frequency

1. Go to Performance > Goals and click New Goal (or open a goal and click Edit goal).
2. Under Dates, open Goal period and choose the granularity and the period: a year (for example 2026), a half-year (H1 2026), a quarter (Q3 2026), a month (March 2026) or a custom range with any start and end date.
3. Open Target frequency and choose how often the goal is measured. The options depend on the goal period (see the table below).
4. Click Continue.

Set the target of each period

1. In the Configuration step, choose the Type of metric and enter the Target value (the total target for the whole goal period).
2. Review the per-period table. Each row is a period (for example Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, or January to December).
3. Choose how to fill the period targets:
   • Currency and Numeric goals: the total target is split equally by default. To set different targets, type a value in each period. To go back to an equal split, click Distribute equally.
   • Percentage goals: each period automatically gets the same target as the goal (for example 85% every quarter).
   • Achieved / not achieved goals: each period is tracked as achieved or not achieved; there is no number to enter.
   • Based on sub-goals goals: there is no per-period table; the periods come from the sub-goals.
4. Check the message under the table. You can continue when it reads "The total target is correctly distributed".
5. Click Submit.

Worked example: a yearly Currency goal with Target value 120,000 EUR and Quarterly frequency is split into Q1 30,000, Q2 30,000, Q3 30,000 and Q4 30,000. If you change Q1 to 20,000 and Q4 to 40,000, the total is still 120,000 and the goal can be saved. If you change only Q1 to 20,000, the message reads "10,000 EUR pending to distribute" and you can't continue until the periods add up to 120,000.

Rules and behavior

• If the Target frequency is the same length as the Goal period (for example a yearly goal with Yearly frequency), then the goal has a single target.
• If the Goal period is a custom range, then the goal has no target frequency and a single target.
• If you change the Goal period to a shorter one, then the Target frequency changes to the first option that fits the new period.
• If the goal is Currency or Numeric and split into periods, then the period targets must add up exactly to the Target value. The messages are "The total target is correctly distributed", "<amount> pending to distribute" and "The total target is exceeded by <amount>".
• If you click Distribute equally, then the total is split into equal parts rounded to 2 decimals and the last period absorbs the rounding difference (for example 100 split in 3 gives 33.33, 33.33 and 33.34).
• If you type a value in any period, then the automatic equal split stops until you click Distribute equally again.
• A period target can't be negative ("Value must be greater than or equal to 0").
• If the goal is Percentage and split into periods, then every period has the same target as the goal.
• Each period has its own current value, progress and status (Not started, On track, Achieved or Missed).
• If you change the goal period or target frequency of an existing goal, then its periods are recreated and the progress recorded in the old periods is removed.
• If the goal is part of an active incentive plan, then its period and frequency can't be changed: "Remove this goal from the incentive plan to change the period and frequency".
• If the goal has a weight, then its period and frequency can't be changed: "Remove this goal's weight in Edit weights to change the period and frequency". To unlock them, set the goal's weight to 0% in Edit weights.
• If the goal is a sub-goal of a goal measured Based on sub-goals, or is itself measured Based on sub-goals and has sub-goals, then its period and frequency are locked to match the rest of the hierarchy.

 Troubleshooting

• Symptom: "I only see one target instead of multiple periods." → Cause: The Target frequency is the same as the goal period, or the goal period is a custom range. → Fix: Edit the goal and choose a shorter Target frequency (for example Quarterly for a yearly goal).
• Symptom: "The Target frequency field disappeared." → Cause: You chose a custom date range as the Goal period. → Fix: Choose a year, half-year, quarter or month instead.
• Symptom: "I can't change the period or frequency of a goal; the fields are greyed out." → Cause: The goal is in an active incentive plan, has a weight, or is part of a hierarchy measured Based on sub-goals. → Fix: Read the note shown under the fields; remove the goal from the incentive plan, set its weight to 0% in Edit weights, or unlink it from its parent.
• Symptom: "I can't continue: 'Adjust the period targets so they add up to the total'." → Cause: The period targets don't add up to the Target value. → Fix: Click Distribute equally or correct the values.

 FAQ

1. Can each month have a different target?
Yes, for Currency and Numeric goals. Type the target of each month in the per-period table; the months must add up to the total target.

2. Can I update progress for each period separately?
Yes. In Update progress, pick the Period you want to update. You can also edit each period's attainment directly in the Target allocation table of the goal detail page.

3. How is the overall progress calculated when a goal has periods?
For Currency and Numeric goals, the values of all periods are added up and compared with the total target. For Percentage goals, the average progress of the periods is used. See Track goal progress.

4. Can I use a yearly goal with monthly targets for incentives?
Yes. Incentive plans read the period of the goal that matches the plan's dates. See Goals across Factorial: reviews, action plans, incentives, Home, profile and mobile.

5. What happened to "cycles"?
Goals no longer belong to a cycle. Each goal has its own Goal period.