The Watercooler

Help Your Team Set SMART Goals

help your team set smart goals

You’ve flipped the calendar – thank goodness! Your organization is making a fresh start, has a new outlook, and is ready to get down to business in 2021.

As you undoubtedly realize, the first step in “getting down to business” is charting a clear path to success – and that starts with sound goal-setting. Below, we share tips for creating “SMART” goals (a deliberate, consistent, and structured process for setting goals) to keep your entire team on track and achieving at high levels.

What are SMART Goals?

The term “SMART” is an acronym for goals that are:

  • Specific: Goals should describe, in detail, the desired result.
  • Measurable: Goals must be structured so that it’s very clear whether they were met. Objective, relevant data are critical to measurement.
  • Achievable or Attainable: Everyone involved in achieving goals should have the resources, training, and experience needed to attain goals.
  • Realistic: Goals should be challenging, not impossible, to achieve.
  • Time-bound: Goals should have a specific time limit attached so that they’re a tangible priority.

Here are a few examples:

  • Hire and fully onboard three new full-time employees for our Fresno call center by March 1st.
  • Decrease fulfillment time for February product orders by 15%, compared to the same period last year.
  • Reduce by 25% the cost of new equipment acquisition in six months.

Help Your Team Set SMART Goals

Once you explain the concept to your team, use these tips to make SMART goals an integral part of your business operations – and help you achieve more, faster:

  • Practice. Effective goal setting is a learned skill. Work as a group to define SMART goal examples that are appropriate for your organization. Use a collaborative process to create relevant goals and get buy-in from everyone on your team.
  • Formalize and share goals. Record goals in a place your team can easily access them, and review them as a group to ensure everyone in your company understands them. The simple act of formalizing goals helps reinforce accountability and improve compliance.
  • Create cascading goals. Individual goals should support team goals. Team goals should support departmental goals. Departmental goals should support organizational goals. Once you’ve rolled out high-level goals (i.e., for your organization and/or department), require teams to build measurable goals that align with them. This encourages individuals to develop responsibility for their own accomplishments and those of the entire organization.

Throughout the year, revisit your team’s goals regularly to ensure they’re making progress and course-correct when necessary. Celebrate milestones along the way to keep employees motivated to achieve your overarching goals.

What are your team’s SMART goals for 2021?

Whether you’re looking to control costs, improve productivity, reduce turnover, or fast-track projects, PrideStaff is the perfect partner to help you achieve more. How can we help? Contact your local PrideStaff office today to learn more.