Human Resources: Goal-Setting Strategies for Your Employees

Almost half of the U.S.-based working adults who completed a recent online survey said they’re given no clearly defined goals on the job.

“Too many companies are dropping the ball in regard to helping their employees set and work toward well-defined goals,” says Joanne Sujansky, CEO of KEYGroup, a consultancy that commissioned the online survey taken by more than 1,700 workers ranging in age from 18 to 64. “When employees don’t have crystal-clear goals to work toward, they’re going to waste time and resources. They’re going to be inefficient.”

Following are some of Sujansky’s tips for setting goals for your employees:

Share the big picture. Workers should know exactly what your company stands for and where it’s going, she notes. “If they don’t know the big picture, how can they own it?”

Help employees set challenging, yet attainable, goals. Don’t merely impose goals; rather, work with employees in the goal-setting exercise.

Give them a voice in the company’s future. “No matter how often you say, ‘This is your company, too,’ if they have no real say-so, it’s clearly just lip service,” says Sujansky.

Offer meaningful work. Give employees challenging assignments and goals that stimulate their minds and that have a real impact on your organization, she notes. Ask employees to devise new products, services or processes, and put them in charge of projects, when appropriate.

Reach Sujansky through her Web site: http://www.keygroupconsulting.com.