How to Set Goals and Objectives: Leadership Tip of the Day for Busy Managers and Leaders

In most companies, about once a year, you’ll write down your goals, and then forget all about them until your planning cycle the following year. Join Bob and Jed this week as they talk about how to set Goals and Objectives, and more importantly how to make them relevant.

Monday’s Tip (How To Set Goals And Objectives): If you have much more than 6 or 7 goals – reassess what’s important. If you spread your attention too thin, you’ll probably not get anything done well.

Tuesday’s Tip (How To Set Goals And Objectives): Look at your goals daily, and figure out how you’ll contribute to them. Well defined goals and objectives guide your action on a daily basis – so look at them each morning before you decide what you’ll do that day.

Wednesday’s Tip (How To Set Goals And Objectives): Involve your team in the setting of goals and objectives. As a leader, if you define your goals without involving your people, then it’ll be very difficult to get buy-in.

Thursday’s Tip (How To Set Goals And Objectives): Make sure your Goals and Objectives are SMART. The SMART acronym is probably overused and simple, but it is very powerful when applied.

Friday’s Tip (How To Set Goals And Objectives): If you have direct reports, make sure you include leadership goals as well as business and operational ones. If you lead others you must take your responsibility as a leader seriously. You can demonstrate your commitment by setting goals that will drive your actions as a leader.

3 Things to remember about How To Set Goals And Objectives:

1. Include your team when establishing Goals and Objectives. This shouldn’t be done in isolation.
2. Meet often to discuss progress. Do not let the setting of Goals and Objectives to become an academic exercise that happens only once a year.
3. Include Business/Operational and Leadership objectives. Most people establish their business or operational Goals and Objectives, and fail to define Leadership ones. If you are a leader of other people you have to set Goals and Objectives that pertain to that function. For example: The number and quality of one on one meetings, % compliance on performance appraisals, measure of employee development activity

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