A Goal is defined as a measurable, desired level of performance. Every business owner needs to set both short and long-term goals and each goal must pass the S.M.A.R.T. test.
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Results oriented, and defined by a
- Time-frame
A goal always has two parts: the goal itself and the desired level of performance. Examples:
- Reduce voluntary staff turnover to 7% or less per year
- Improve annual safety audit by achieving a score of 98/100
- Reduce annual product defects to 30 per 10,000
- Increase annual customer satisfaction to 90% of “5” on a 5-point scale
Objectives for accomplishing the Goals should be set at each level in the organization in a cascading fashion. Each objective must be directly linked to the achievement of the larger, macro goal(s). Rarely is a single objective used to achieve a goal; multiple objectives are usually needed. Borrow good ideas from other sources. And when setting goals try to avoid making these mistakes:
- Creating goals that are really projects, activities, or strategies
- Goals that are based solely on past performance
- Arbitrary stretch goals
- Inconsistent short and longer-term goals
- Inconsistencies in goals at different levels of the organization
As part of goal setting, be sure to also develop Measuring and Testing (M&T) strategies. Link each goal with key objectives that can be measured/tested or listed/tracked, in a scorecard format. An example might include the following:
- Long-term goal of “90% Customer Satisfaction” is linked to your customer satisfaction ranking system.
Remember to focus on the following:
- Develop specific objectives for each goal
- Identify short (annual) and longer-term goals on the same measures
- Make sure goals and plans are consistent across levels and functions
- When possible, involve customers, key suppliers, and employees in the planning process
- Spend no more than one month at fiscal year-end preparing your plan
- Employ a systematic approach to select the best strategies for accomplishing your goals
- Use benchmarking to identify effective strategies for achieving your goals
- Communicate your plan! If employees don’t know your goals and plans, they won’t be able to help you reach them. Use a variety of communication methods with more reliance on one-on-one communication than canned presentations.
BIO
Deborah Kohler launched her business in 2004. She is a Business Coach, Trainer, Professional Facilitator, Columnist and Public Speaker. Her company mission is “helping business owners and community leaders.
CEO/Owner Scribble Mountain www.scribblemountain.com (970) 391-6980
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