The importance of setting team goals is widely recognized. Most companies have individual and team goals to drive production. But team goals are different from the benchmarks we set for ourselves. Collaboration can be enhanced with team goals. Teams learn to row in the same direction to streamline production.
What are the benefits of team goals, and how can you establish them? We have answers that will get you started down the right path.
How Can You Set Up Your Team Goals?
What are the Benefits of Team Goals?
The benefits of team goals include:
- Increased collaboration between individuals who understand how their work contributes to overall team success.
- Better goal ownership and overall accountability for individuals and the team.
- Increased trust between team members, which makes workflows much smoother.
- Contributes to the learning and development of new skills among the team.
- Elevates performance of individuals and teams.
- Clarifies the contributions of members of the team within the context of organizational goals.
There is plenty of empirical research showing how teams function more effectively when they work towards a shared goal. How can your organization take advantage of the benefits of team goals by setting them up effectively?
How to Set Up Team Goals?
The first and most important tip for setting up team goals is simple: Set the goals collaboratively with the team and not for the team. Dictating your goals to a team will do nothing to increase their buy-in.
The second rule of thumb for team goal setting is to make the goals SMART:
- Specific goals
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
SMART goals provide teams with the clarity of an attainable goal within a culture of accountability.
How many times have you tried to set goals without hitting the numbers? Many times, this has more to do with the fact that the goals simply weren’t realistically attainable within the time frame you set them in. Goals should tie to a weekly accountability where team members hold themselves accountable for how they’re doing. Managers can help by facilitating daily or weekly standups to check in on the status of the work.
Make sure your goals are tied to the overall strategic and business goals of the organization and that employees understand the “why” behind the goal. This will help reframe the goals within the context of the corporate contribution to a mission greater than itself. Also, be sure that attaining goals is rewarded, even if the milestone is small. Managers that lead more with the carrot and not the stick, will more effectively harness the power of their team.
Finally, listen to your team. If your employees struggle or need more resources, provide it. Your job is to support the success of your team by giving them the tools they need to make things happen. The team will give you the insights you need to be successful. Trust them to do the work and give you the feedback you need to change goals, or even the job or product itself.
Ready to Reach Your Team Goals?
Exelare aids the goal-setting process by offering a great tool for recruiting and sales teams seeking better organization of individual and group workflows. Talk with our team today about how our state-of-the-art software can help your team’s goal-setting this year.