Goals used to work. They used to serve a purpose. They were important because achieving them meant something. Then all of a sudden Gen-Y showed up. I don’t like the old-fashioned goal system.
Once a goal is accomplished what happens next? Where do we go from here? Is there a new project? An effective goal will eliminate these questions; it will allow people / employees to progress and develop constantly. When the goal is the motivator, productivity decreases, but when the work itself is the motivator productivity soars.
Repetitive goals cause employees to lose focus and motivation. If a goal is merely being rephrased or tweaked to freshen it up, people will catch on. These ‘Automated Goals’ will destroy the work ethic of employees faster than you can imagine. This poor behavior is demonstrated by sales managers on a regular basis. The speech goes something like this:
“So today we need to sell $X. There are 5 of you here today so you need to sell $Y each.”
There is nothing motivating about this at all. Sales professionals know what their jobs are. The primary function of the job is in the title: Sales. At the start of each day it’s safe to say that work will include selling. Most goals dealing with numbers silently hint that if you manage to reach X you can slow down or even stop. It does a company no good to condone this type of behavior. It is a much better practice to use goals to increase effectiveness.
A Goal should be used to promote new behavior, access employee potential, and explore new areas of development.
Think of goals as doorways to new possibilities. The best open the door completely and allow tons of room for fresh energy and development. The worst let you turn the handle, but slam shut on your ankle. Goals should be a catalyst for employee action, not a limit on individual success. They should springboard employees into action, not put a cap on progress.
Question: How would you change the way goals are used at your office?
If you feel like stuck with the way things are at work check out this post: Make Goals for Yourself.
Here are two great articles that deal with Gen Y in the workplace.
4 Tips for Millennials to Work Well with Boomers | CareerBliss.com
5 Strategies to Keep Your Gen Y Talent Happy | The Savvy Intern by YouTern
