How to write objectives and goals?
- Christian Ocariz
- Sep 10, 2024
- 2 min read
In the business world, setting clear objectives and goals is essential for success. However, 70% of companies fail to achieve their annual goals.
Harvard Business Review reveals that 70% of companies fail to meet their annual goals. The main causes include a lack of clarity in objectives, lack of alignment with middle management and insufficient communication to employees.
The importance of involving middle management
Middle managers play a crucial role in implementing and communicating objectives. They must not only understand the company’s goals, but they must also actively contribute to them. Involving these leaders in writing #SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) #objectives ensures that they are aligned with the overall strategy and are achievable within their teams.
1. Specific:
A clear and concrete goal avoids ambiguity. Instead of “improve sales,” a specific goal would be “increase sales by 15% in the next quarter.”
2. Measurable:
Without a way to measure progress, it's hard to know if you're making progress. Use clear, relevant metrics for each goal.
3. Achievable:
Goals should be challenging but realistic. An unattainable goal can demotivate the team.
4. Relevant:
Make sure the objectives are aligned with the company's strategic goals and are meaningful to the business.
5. Definite time:
Setting a clear deadline for achieving the goal helps maintain focus and urgency.
Deployment of objectives to the rest of the employees
Once objectives are defined, it is crucial that they are effectively communicated to all levels of the organization. Employees make thousands of decisions every day without direct supervision. If they don’t understand the company’s objectives and #goals, how can they ensure that their decisions are aligned with the overall strategy?
To prevent employees from making uninformed decisions, clear and effective deployment of objectives is vital. This may include:
• Team meetings: To discuss objectives and how each department contributes to them.
• Digital tools: Use digital platforms to keep everyone informed and allow for continuous monitoring of progress.
• Continuous feedback: Promote a culture of open communication where employees can ask and give feedback on objectives.
Digitalization as an accelerator of decision-making
Digitalization can play a key role in accelerating informed decision-making. By using data analytics tools and management software, companies can:
• Access real-time data: Allows employees to make decisions based on the latest information.
• Scenario simulation: Helps to visualize different outcomes and make more informed decisions.
• Process automation: Reduces the time and effort required to collect and analyze data, allowing employees to focus on strategic decisions.
Conclusion
Writing effective goals and objectives is more than just an administrative task; it is a strategic tool that can define a company’s success. Involving middle management, communicating clearly to all employees, and leveraging digitalization for informed decision-making are crucial steps in this process. Don’t let your team make decisions in the dark; provide clarity, direction, and the tools needed to achieve success.
