If you are in charge of employees, you know how difficult it can be to get them to follow through on goals. This is especially true with New Year’s Resolutions. They are all inspired to get something done and then end up not following through. This coming year, you can change all of that. Here are 7 ways to help your employees reach their goals:
- Clear Outcomes
If you don’t know what target you’re trying to hit, then it is impossible to hit it. Employees feel the same way when they set vague goals. Perhaps your sales team is constantly setting goals that they think they will hit, just to fall short once again. The key is defining exactly (down to the date, the dollar amount, the weight loss, or other outcome) what determines success.
- Juicy Goals
No one gets motivated by mediocre goals. Big goals are inspiring in their own right. Encourage your employees to dream large but within reason and watch the results. It also helps to break down big goals into smaller bite-sized goals to keep you on track throughout the year.
- Rewards
Don’t wait until the very end for your employees to get rewarded for their goals. Set milestones along the way that keep them energized. That way they will stay positive and the ultimate prize won’t seem quite so far away.
- Punishments
While you should focus on positive rewards, you also need to have negative consequences. If customers aren’t happy, then your customer service team should hear about it. No one likes hearing negative feedback or enduring some unwanted consequence, and having some qualifiers will keep people on their toes.
- Sharing
Encourage them to share their goals with the whole team. This puts pressure on them to perform. Instead of just letting themselves down, they would experience letting the whole team down if they fail.
- Transparency
As the manager, you can lead by example. Don’t be a stone wall — open up to your employees. Show them that you too have goals and are accountable, and make sure employees feel comfortable calling you when you slack off
- Reminders
Constant reminders serve to speed up progress. Post pictures or lists of goals where workers can see them. They will feel themselves making progress every day.
When it comes to inspiring your employees, it can seem daunting at first. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. If you use the tips above, you can sit back and relax as your employees start achieving more in less time than ever before. That way your organization can meet all your higher level goals.