According to a study done by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at the Dominican University of California, people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. In a business setting, planning for goal accomplishment is key to growth and success.
But it's not enough to just write down your goals. You need to share them with your employees and create a strategy that'll motivate your employees to give their best.
Keep reading to learn how to create a work environment that encourages goal achievement and keeps your employees motivated.
Motivated employees are the key to goal achievement
Motivated employees are a powerful company asset. They'll work smarter, be more productive, and offer brilliant ideas, all while helping you achieve your business goals with ease.
But having motivated employees depends on the encouragement and appreciation from managers and higher-ups, as well as the company culture and work environment.
An employee who loves coming to work will reduce company turnover, boost team morale, and devote their knowledge and skills to your company.
Set SMART goals and make them exciting
Sometimes, business goals can be cut and dry but they still need to be accomplished. This is why you need to set SMART goals that you can make fun and exciting for the team by promoting the power of teamwork.
What are SMART goals? Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This means you need to outline exactly what the goal is and what you'll use to measure its success. Then, outline the actual steps to achieving the goal, and the timeline for getting everything done.
You can turn every step of the goal achievement process into a challenge and add a reward for the team. For example, if the business goal is very important for the growth of the company and the team accomplishes it with great success before the deadline, gift everyone a spa day, a wellness package, or a bonus. This is one way to encourage your employees and show your appreciation.
Create a goal achievement strategy
The fastest way to achieve any goal is to have a strong and solid goal achievement strategy. When creating a strategy, include everyone on the team. This way, they can participate, share feedback, and give ideas on how to achieve this goal more efficiently.
The strategy should include the specific steps for accomplishing the goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. It should also include the metrics you'll be using to measure the progress, monitor individual performance, and list the tools, technologies, and software you'll be using.
Finally, the goal should have a main deadline, as well as deadlines for all the steps. You can also talk to each employee to see what their strongest skills are so you can give them specific roles in the goal-achieving process.
Ask for feedback from your employees
When you're setting goals for your team and employees, it's important to include them in the goal creation and decision-making process. This is key to their professional growth as they learn how to overcome obstacles and keep the bigger picture in mind.
This is one of the best ways to motivate your employees and make them feel appreciated and valued in your company. You'll get incredible ideas, boost employee morale, and strengthen the bond between employees and teams.
Encourage work-life balance
A workplace that encourages and supports work-life balance will have more successful goal achievement, happier employees, and higher productivity levels. In fact, 68% of employees in the U.S. say poor work-life balance negatively impacts their morale and motivation at work.
Whether you have a hybrid work environment, work remotely, or in-house, your employees need to know they can sign off at the end of the workday. A well-rested employee will have more clarity and better ideas when they come to work. They'll be more motivated to work on any task, no matter how big.
Encourage regular and transparent communication
In a company with a positive and encouraging company culture, transparent communication on all levels is the norm. In other words, when you set business goals, make sure everyone knows exactly what to do, who to collaborate with, and where to access the necessary tools and resources.
Avoid being the manager or CEO who is never around and always unavailable. If you're not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, how can you expect your employees to be? Being present and open to feedback will help your employees see you as someone who cares rather than someone who couldn't care less.
Help employees achieve their career goals
Aside from accomplishing your business goals, your employees also have career goals of their own. This is why it's important to help them create a solid career path in your company and make a plan for how they can grow.
When your employees see that you care about their career success, they'll be more motivated to accomplish your business goals. For example, if you set a goal to expand your client base or boost sales, you'll quickly see who's good at what.
Pay attention to your employees' strong sides and do a little role shuffling if needed. This is a great way to help employees expand their skill sets, learn more about the company, and get variety in their workday. Assess which employees are ready for the next level in their careers. Then give them an opportunity to show you what they've got.
Encourage goal achievement and improve employee satisfaction with Mesh
Setting business goals with the help of happy employees is easily achievable if you have a positive work environment and a healthy work-life balance in your company.
Now that you've set your business goals and have a strategy to accomplish them, you need performance management software from Mesh. You can track your team's progress, share feedback with your team, and keep up with every step of the goal achievement journey.
Contact us today to learn how you can become a people engagement pro in your company with Mesh!