SupervisionChapter 3: Goal Setting

• In most companies, top management sets the overall purpose—the vision—of the organization.

• You are much more likely to be achieve your vision when you take a planned, goal-oriented approach, communicate this approach, and have the support of other employees.

Purpose

Vision• A vision is the

overall purpose of the organization. A vision is a long-term, broad, strategic direction that will take several years to

achieve.

Goals• A goal is the

specific result of an effort to improve an organization in some way. Goals can be short-term or long-term and should also align with the vision of the organization.

•Following are the main reasons to set goals whenever you want to accomplish something significant:

– Goals provide direction.– Goals tell you how far you’ve traveled. – Goals help make your overall vision

attainable. – Goals clarify everyone’s role. – Goals give people something to strive for.

•For goals to be useful, they have to link directly to the final vision.  

Goals

• The best goals are SMART goals referring to a handy checklist for the five characteristics of well-designed goals.– Specific. – Measurable. – Attainable.– Relevant. – Time-bound.

SMART

Significant Goals

• Too many goals can overwhelm you and your employees.

• It’s far better to set a few significant goals and then concentrate your efforts on attaining them.

• Ensure that you follow through on the goals.

• Many companies establish goals and then return to business as usual

Communicating Goals

• Goals must be communicated clearly, the receiver must understand the goals, and the goals must be followed through.

Communicating Goals

• Goals are personal, and the methods you use to communicate them must be much more formal and direct.

• Ask your employees to prepare and present plans and milestone schedules explaining how they can accomplish the assigned goals by the deadlines that you agreed to.

• Communicating your organization’s vision is as important as communicating specific goals.

Goal Focused•The process of goal setting often

generates a lot of excitement and energy within employees.

•Managers must take steps to ensure that the organization’s focus remains centered on the goals and not on other matters.

•Staying focused on goals can be extremely difficult—particularly when you’re a busy person and the goals are added on top of your regular responsibilities.

Goals and Results•One of the biggest problems that

employees face is confusing activity with results.

•A general rule that says that 80 percent of workers’ productivity comes from 20 percent of their activity.

•Following are some tips to help you and your employees work on the items that help all of you achieve the company’s goals:– Do your number one priority first! – Get organized! – Just say no!

Achieving Goals• You have the power to

make your goals happen.• Everyone has five primary

sources of power, and each of you has specific strengths and weaknesses related to these sources.

• Be aware of the sources of your power and use it in a positive way to help you and your employees accomplish the goals of your organization.

• An organization can live up to its full potential only if it sets and strives toward goals that are closely aligned with the company’s vision. As you have learned, these goals must be communicated effectively and prioritized. You and other managers can use different sources of power to ensure the goals have buy-in from all employees.

Summary

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