Struggling to keep employees motivated and passionate? Caught up in the humdrum of daily life? Consider trying goal setting, in the office or in your personal life! Goal setting is beneficial to both personal and professional management. Setting goals, and displaying them, is both motivating and a reminder of the bigger picture. Additionally, it is helpful for project organization. I first came across goal setting when I worked at Lululemon, the popular athletic apparel store. They had every level of employee fill out a simple goal sheet, categorized by ”health,” ”personal,” and ”professional” one-year, five- year, and 10-year goals. I loved the idea and have continued to do it in my own life. Why should you or your employees try it?
Inspiration: In any business, it’s important to inspire passion in your employees. In PR, the variety of clients and projects make for few dull moments on the job. However, it is still essential to keep employees engaged with and zealous about their work. Setting goals can help you, or your staff, remain diligent about work, serving as a reminder as to why day-to-day activities matter, whether they be in the office or in your personal life.
Big picture thinking: Goal setting allows you to think in the long term, focusing on the big picture. This can be helpful when thinking about big-picture goals for your company, your position at work, or yourself. We often complete messaging workshops for clients asking where they see themselves down the road, or what their big goals are—why not try the same big picture approach to your own life and career, or your staff’s?
Motivation. Goal setting provides something to work toward, which can be extremely motivating, especially if you are caught up in a tedious or tiring task. Goal setting reminds you why you are on the path you are on, making small tasks part of a big-picture achievement. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can be motivating, for employees or for yourself.
Time management. While goal setting may seem abstract and imaginative, it actually provides a sound strategy through which efficient time-management decisions can be made. Once you have established long-term work or personal goals, you can determine your strategy for realistically achieving them. What needs to be done in the next six months? The next three? Today?
If you are looking for some inspiration, either in the workplace or in your own life, consider setting a few goals, and breaking down how they can be achieved. Writing down goals, and thinking through what needs to be achieved to accomplish them, is a powerful motivation tool in your daily life. Grounding big goals – whether they are for your company, your staff, or yourself – in manageable tasks can help make big picture dreams a reality.
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