The start of a new year is a common time for individuals to set New Year’s resolutions, but it’s also a good time to revisit or revamp goals for your team. More than just a tradition to mark a new year, the best way to take advantage of setting new goals for your team is to be sure to make them SMART.
What is a SMART Goal?
The best goals to inspire change and progress for your team are SMART.
- Specific: Goals are specific and clearly defined with expectations and performance outcomes.
- Measurable: Goals are easily tracked and evaluated.
- Achievable: Goals are realistic given the available resources and conditions.
- Relevant: Goals are tailored to your unique objectives to have an impact on your business.
- Time-based: Goals are narrowly defined by a specific timeframe.
When you begin to set goals for your team, you may find that at first pass, they are too broad. If they are, just refine them until you can check off each box of the SMART goal criteria.
How to Implement SMART Goals for Your Team
Follow these steps and tips to successfully get your team aligned to implement your SMART goals for the new year.
Align the Team
As you’re ready to kick off your efforts, you’re going to have to coordinate some meetings and check-ins first. It’s imperative for success that your entire team is aware of the SMART goals and each component. Hold a kick-off meeting and provide regular updates. Plus, be sure to give your team the chance to ask questions and provide feedback before you send them off to get to work.
Create a Shared Schedule
After initial communication of the SMART goals with your team, it’s important to share progress, issues, or updates with your team along the way. When everyone is working toward the goal together, it’s important to continue building cohesion so the team can work together along the way.
Define Success Metrics
Your SMART goals should have metrics, but it’s also important to consider what overall success looks like for your company and how your goals fit in with them. Choosing which metrics to use with your SMART goal implementation may take some thoughtfulness and finetuning, but you can also ask for input from other team leaders. When it’s intentionally defined, SMART goals will fit within overall company successes as well.
Make Adjustments Based on Feedback
Before you implement your SMART goals and throughout the process, ask your employees to provide you with feedback. Their perspectives and observations are valuable and may bring to light an issue you didn’t consider. Ultimately, as long as feedback can bring more success to the outcome of your SMART goal, it’s worth consideration.
Find Employees to Help You Reach Your Team Goals
Let the professionals at Expert Staffing help you find the best candidates for your open positions so you can meet all your team goals.
