Running a small business is tough. As the owner, you have to wear several hats to be successful. You make decisions about marketing, budget, products, customer service, and everything else that may come up on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, many small businesses just don’t make it.
Why?
One of the most common reasons that we have seen that causes small businesses to fail is that they do not set clear goals.
It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of setting goals, and today we are going to tell you why.
Goals Provide Focus
When a company sets goals, it makes its priorities clear for everyone involved in the organization. The purpose of goal setting is to show employees what they need to focus on the most during the upcoming quarter, which then helps them to be able to prioritize their tasks. For managers, it helps them decide which major projects to focus on and how best to hand out the work to employees.
Goals Keep Everyone Motivated
No matter how much you love your job or industry, there are times when you just don’t want to go into work, or you feel like being lazy for a day or two. Part of the importance of goal setting in an organization is that it helps keep everyone motivated even in times where he or she may not necessarily feel like putting in much work. Although someone may not feel like giving 100%, they will if they know that there is some sort of award at the end of the tunnel.
Goals Promote Teamwork
In addition to keeping everyone motivated, setting goals also helps encourage people to work together. When everyone is working towards a common goal, they are more likely to come together to accomplish it. If there are group rewards in place, this encourages people to work together even more since they cannot earn the reward on their own.
Goals Increase Morale
When people go to work every day with no end in sight and no goals to achieve, it wears down on them emotionally. Everything starts to feel the same, and people just start going through the motions. However, goals help workers take ownership and pride in their work. When they achieve a goal that you set for them, it makes them feel good inside. That little bit of motivation can increase workplace morale significantly.
Goals Help You Measure Success
If you plan your goals the right way, it will help you measure your company’s success in ways that you never could if you had not set any goals. The SMART way to setting goals is a proven method that helps ensure your success. The SMART method is as follows: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. For your goals to be successful, you have to be able to measure progress, and your employees have to be able to feel that they have a chance at attaining the goal. You can then judge progress and adjust goals as necessary.
The importance of goal setting in an organization is something that we cannot stress enough. Goals are what keep your employees motivated, happy, and ready to come into work each day. If you set goals in the right way, there is no question that it will help increase the productivity and success of your company. Keep the SMART principles in mind, and always be open to feedback from your employees and managers.
What Do You Think?
How has goal setting affected you either as an employee, manager, or small business owner?
Share your comments with us via social media!
