One of the keys to success in any business is setting effective goals and intentionally working toward achieving them. Another key is having engaged employees working for you. Put the two together and you have a great recipe for a profitable business. So, the question you might ask yourself about employee goals is, “Should I let my employees set their own? The answer is, YES.
Get Employees Engaged With Goal Setting
The more buy-in you get from your employees about their jobs, the easier it is for them to get their jobs done. So, why not allow them to create their own set of goals? Some companies give employees free range on goal setting. Others take a hybrid approach where managers give high-level goals and guidelines for letting employees determine the final plan. Either way, you should involve employees in goal setting related their work
At the same time, it is important to make sure that their goals are in line with the goals of the company. Employee’s ideas on what they want to do may not contribute well to what the company needs. This is where managers need to provide oversight to ensure company and employee goals are in sync.
How to Help Employees Set Their Goals
While setting their own goals may empower some employees, others may not like the idea. They may fear the additional accountability that results. As their manager, you need to help them understand that they are accountable to their goals in either instance. At least in the case where they set their own goals, they have input and ownership. This is good for them and the company.
Some employees may try to set aggressive schedules with their goals. As a result, they don’t give themselves enough time and set themselves up for failure. As their manager, you need to watch for this and help them make adjustments. If your employees do not complete their tasks on time, the failure reflects on them and you. So, ensure that each member can complete their goals on time.
In other instances, employees may not fully understand how involved their goal is. They may not account for the investment required of others to help them accomplish their goals. Â They also may not be aware of the costs associated with their goals. You will need to guide them, redirecting them if necessary. Or, you will need to make sure they have the resources necessary to achieve their goals.
If you have several employees on your team, you may want them to work together on the goal setting effort. This will ensure that each team member knows what the other members are working on and how they may be called upon to support. With your guidance, this collaborative effort will strengthen the whole team.
To read more on setting business goals read: Six Reasons Why You Won’t Set Business Goals