7 Goal Setting Tips for Employees
Goal setting is an extremely important factor in boosting employee motivation and performance. It helps employees in mapping their accomplishments and motivates them to work harder to reach the next level. Goal setting is an important tool for businesses in achieving greater revenue and profitability and developing employee skills. It helps bring out the hidden talent and creativity of the employees.
There are various benefits that can be derived out of goal setting, such as a healthy competitive environment in the organization and remain competitive in the marketplace. The biggest advantage of goal setting is that employees know what is expected of them and they are aware of the rewards that await them upon completion of a project and this helps them in remaining disciplined and focused.
The best goals are easily attainable, mapped, include a certain time-frame and are specific. Goal setting helps improve the productivity, efficiency and even adds to the overall development of the employees.
Productivity for any organization is very important. It helps map the overall growth and combine that with efficiency; it results into better utilization of time, resources and helps maintain quality of products and services in an organization. It maps the work accomplished in a given time-frame and the speed and accuracy with which it is completed.
Goals may be set keeping in mind the overall growth of a business and its position in the market. It is done to achieve cost control or increase productivity and efficiency and even improve services and products. But while goals are being set, it is important for leaders and managers to keep in mind that they should align individuals and teams on the same path and even focus on employee development, not just business growth.
Here are 7 goal setting tips for employees:
1. Set Achievable Goals
While setting goals, it is important to keep in mind the resources available and the skills of employees. Managers should not overwhelm employees with goals that seem difficult to attain as it will only lead to frustration and demotivate the employees. Setting achievable goals will boost confidence and motivation among employees and improve their performance.
2. Pen Them Down
For goals to be achieved, it is very important for managers to specify them and make sure they are noted down by the employees. Many times, it might so happen that employees want to set goals for themselves. Tell them the importance of writing down their goals. It helps them visualize and tap into their strengths and weakness and also think of potential obstacles they might face.
3. Divide Goals into Sub-goals
One of the best ways to achieve larger goals is to break them down. For example, as a manager, you want more unity in your team. So, to achieve that, you may start by pairing different members every time for group tasks. This way, it will help them to understand each other and work out their differences and the final goal of achieving unity in the team can be attained.
Or if it’s a personal development goal of an employee, for example, developing assertiveness, you can start by practicing assertiveness with friends and family and you will easily be able to incorporate that at work, in the longer run, whenever needed.
4. Set SMART goals
- S- Set clear, specific goals.
- M- Goals should be measurable to be able to map the progress.
- A- Goals should be attainable.
- R- Set goals that are relevant, the ones that help attain bigger goals and that lead to the personal development of employees as well growth of the organization.
- T- There should be a time-frame to achieve the set goals. Deadlines are important.
5. Review Goals
Just as anything else in life, it is important to keep a check on goals as well. Are they still relevant to the professional or personal goals or business goals? Are right measures being undertaken to achieve them? It is important to review the progress regularly and make changes as and when needed.
6. Visualize Success
Focusing on negative outcomes and obstacles will only make the process of achieving goals difficult, adding stress and anxiety to the minds of employees. Visualizing success makes goals more believable and gives employees the push to work with discipline and dedication towards attaining the goal.
7. Celebrate and Recognize
For managers, recognize and appreciate employees who attain goals. For employees, celebrate your success with your peers and social circle. Do not wait for the final goal to be achieved. Even a small progress or milestone achieved deserves recognition and celebration.
