Goal Setting

CA B.FRANCIS AMAL GEORGE

Objectives
Describe the benefits of goal-setting Explain the difference between goals and objectives List the criteria for good goals Explain the 4 steps of the goal setting process Detail the relationship between goals and performance Explain the benefits of mutually-set goals

Benefits of Goal Setting

Provides a tool for assessment
Encourages objective appraisals

Improves employee performance

Sense of accomplishment Increased employee morale

Provides direction

Goals vs. Objectives...

Goals
Organization goals provide framework Provide guidelines for departments
Set objectives within this framework

Objectives
More specific What by when statements

Overarching Goals (Aspirations)

Superordinate Goals (Motives)

Personal Practices Effort Response to Supervision

Personal Practices

Scripts Follower Behavior Self-Messages Corporate Lore

Performance

How Aspirations Become Translated into Performance

Set

Mission
Vision Reward

Values
Departmental Goals

Work-Group Goals
Individual Goals

Feedback

Getting Started...
Discuss purpose of goal setting
i.e. Company wide changes

Explain the process Employee & manager establish goals Create mutual goals Explain how goals will be used Provide examples of goals for employee

SMARTER Goals
Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timely Effective Reinforcing

Specific
Uses specific terms rather than vague, abstract ones
Inappropriate: Employees will be empowered Appropriate: Employees will be authorized to make more decisions

Measurable
Includes some method for objectively measuring their achievement
Inappropriate: Consumers will be delighted Appropriate: We will receive at least 12 unsolicited testimonials from our consumers expressing positive reactions to our services

Achievable
Is challenging but realistic
Inappropriate: All consumers will be seen by a counselor within 2 days of intake Appropriate: Seventy-five percent of consumers will be seen by a counselor within 2 months of intake

Relevant
Follows the business strategy of the organization and unit
Organization goal: Increase competitive placements by 30 percent Inappropriate: Increase competitive placements by 5 percent Appropriate: Increase competitive placements by 30 percent

Timely
Specifies a time period (short-, medium-, or long-term)
Inappropriate: Reduce the size of the waiting list by 10% Appropriate: Reduce the size of the waiting list by 10% during the first two quarters

Effective
Focuses on critical factors and avoids trivial ones
Inappropriate: Use fewer paperclips Appropriate: Fully implement agency policy on consumer choice by the end of the year

Reinforcing
Subsequent goals in a list reinforce previous goals, and do not contradict them
First goal on a list: Reduce the amount of paperwork in the department Inappropriate second goal: The paperwork reduction committee will distribute copies of its final report to all employees. Appropriate second goal: The paperwork reduction committee will post a one-page summary of its final report on the notice board, and put the full text on the company intranet.

Activity

Generating Goals...
Meet to discuss goals
Let employee go first Provide positive reinforcement for goals

Establish a combined set of goals

Increases success of obtaining goals

Monitoring the Process...

Joint agreement
Measuring & monitoring progress
e.g., review placements every 2 weeks and compare to target placement figures

Assess progress toward reaching goal

Make any necessary adjustments

Goal Setting...
Create the need Introduce the process Generate goals Measure & monitor

The effort will pay off!!!

Dangers of Goal-Setting
Goals can be counterproductive, demoralizing, and can engender hostility if they are not
Specific Realistic Mutually determined

Source: Dangot-Simpkin, G. (1993, April). The dangers of goal-setting. Supervisory Management, p. 3.

The relationship between goal difficulty and performance is curvilinear Performance

High

Low

Easy

Moderate Goal Difficulty

Difficult

Employee and Managerial Input in Goal Setting

Employee Input? No Manager No Input? Yes No goals Assigned goals Yes Self-set goals Interactive goals