Setting objectives

Do you feel that you are adrift, lacking direction? Are you left wondering what you should do, in which order? Well you need to smarten up your objectives.

How good are you at setting objectives? Do you set them and then find that you, or the organisation, hasn't performed as well as you (it) could have done? Does everyone understand what you mean when you set aims and objectives for individuals or your team? If not why not? Is it the language you have used or a lack of training/preparation for the tasks in hand? When you have not reached your target or the goals that have been set revisit your initial objectives were they:

• Defined - clear and specific;
• Attainable - realistic and achievable with the resources, time, people, equipment that is available;
• Formalised - documented so that everyone knows what is expected, what their responsibilities are, what their priorities are;
• Time limited - dates for achievement have been set or on a long term project milestones have been agreed at defined points;
• Measurable  -  can it be easily determined when a goal has been achieved, the benefits  that will be delivered,  can  trend analysis be undertaken?
• Enabling - involving the whole team - can required everyone participate according to their skills and talents?
• Stretching - do they drive performance and growth amongst individuals and in the organisation?
• Streamlined - is your business drowning in complications and bureaucracy - try to keep it simple.

Peter Drucker is reputed to have said that “Objectives are not fate; they are direction. They are not commands; they are commitments. They do not determine the future; they are means to mobilize the resources and energies of the business for the making of the future". So have you set the right objectives? If not how can you improve - prepare more, improve your resource base, communicate more effectively, or understand more clearly what your customers want and how you intend to deliver their requirements?