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When running your own business, it’s imperative you have company-set goals laid out from the start. This helps employees know what is expected of them, where they stand, and what duties they need to perform to keep your operation going.
As a business owner, your priority should be on your employees and their professional development. Taking a core interest in their progress is what will help boost morale, productivity, and efficiency across the board. Whether you’ve just launched a new business or you’re a long-established organisation, here are some useful tactics all business heads can use and implement that will support staff and help them reach new heights within the operation.
Tactics to Help Your Employees Reach Company Set Goals
1. Track Individual Progress
Now is the time to get to know your team inside out. You need to learn what motivates employees, what they need help with, as well as their interests and hobbies outside of work. To boost their performance and reach company-set goals, getting to know your staff on a personal level is key. There are all kinds of questions you can ask your team when tracking individual progress. These include whether staff like to sit in a quiet space, or maybe they’re more inclined to work with others to boost productivity.
You’re able to track and monitor employee progress by conducting regular one-on-one meetings with them. Make sure you come to the meetings with a plan of action, so you achieve what you’ve set out to do. Also, check up on your team every once in a while in the office to monitor how they’re getting on and if they’re happy with their duties.
2. Set SMART Goals
Most importantly, you need to establish whether your team are actually fully aware of your goals and expectations. When new employees arrive to the business, you must have your goals fully laid out in your employee handbook. It’s wise to set SMART (smart, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely) goals with set timelines attached. Doing so helps staff feel motivated and determined when working on projects and tasks.
Setting SMART goals is a brilliant tactic for encouraging personal development, as well as improving employee performance. When you involve your team in their own goal-setting process, this gives them control and autonomy over their goals. Just make sure whatever goals you set are realistic. If you overload your staff with too many, they may quickly become overwhelmed and find it difficult to stay on track.
3. Incorporate Regular Training
Regular training programmes are a must in any business. For employees to reach company-set goals, they need to be kept in the know on the latest trends within your sector, as well as emerging technology and software. Both of these arms your team with the knowledge they need to excel in their roles and push your business forward.
There are training programmes you can embark on too, that can help you become a better communicator, leader, and business owner. 1ovmany have agile training programmes and OKR training courses you can embark on. These are designed to enhance project performance and help you learn the techniques, skills, and mindset required to manage projects using an agile approach.
4. Empower Your Team
All employees like to feel respected and valued by the big boss. If that’s you, it’s time to empower your team to help them reach their targets and goals. When was the last time you told your staff how grateful you are for all their hard work? If you can’t remember, there’s no wonder your team aren’t going above and beyond!
Investing in your employees‘ long-term careers in the organisation and providing the necessary resources is what will develop them into talented, hard-working individuals. There are plenty of ways you can empower your team, such as through work trips, workshops, and professional development courses. It really does pay off to invest in your employee’s development!
5. Reward High Performance
If a member of staff has excelled in their duties and gone the extra mile for the business, it’s your job to reward them accordingly. While you may think a simple thank you and a pat on the back may do the trick, if you want employees to stick around and reach their goals, you need to reward high performance.
There are lots of ways you can reward employees who have hit their targets. For example, you could give a cash bonus to say thank you or hand out vouchers. Alternatively, why not give a staff member an extra day’s leave? When you show how much you value your team, they will be more motivated and willing to work harder, especially if there are rewards involved!
6. Cultivate a Positive Workplace Environment
The workplace should be an environment that promotes creativity and enthusiasm. When staff rock up for the start of their shift, you want to see happy smiles on their faces, rather than dread! If your team aren’t comfortable in the office, they’re not going to feel relaxed and ready to get stuck in. What’s more, this can affect their work performance, making it difficult to reach company-set goals.
It’s your responsibility to cultivate a positive workplace environment. You need to maintain a happy and healthy company culture so everyone feels part of the team. There are numerous things you can do to achieve this, such as having a spacious staff room fitted with appliances and mod cons that employees can enjoy on their break. Make sure you invest in comfortable chairs too so staff can stay focused on their workload rather than deal with back pain!
7. Encourage Regular Communication
You don’t want to be known as the owner who’s never in the office or impossible to get hold of. This isn’t good news for your business and can leave your team feeling disengaged, demotivated, and undervalued. To stop this from happening, you need to make more of a conscious effort to be present in the office.
If you want your team to reach and smash your goals, being available and present is essential. We appreciate you’ll have all kinds of duties yourself to complete. However, showing your face in the office and checking on everyone is a must. Use these opportunities to discuss team goals and have open discussions.
8. Ask and Give Feedback
Asking for and giving feedback go hand in hand when it comes to employees reaching company-set goals. Your team will need words of encouragement and feedback on how they’re doing, otherwise, they may have no idea where they stand and how they’re actually performing.
It’s just as important to ask for feedback too. If your team has any issues with their workload, knowing they can give their opinion and thoughts means everything. When handing out feedback, just make sure it’s constructive criticism, rather than attack. The latter can demotivate employees.
For your team to thrive within the business and achieve company-set goals, their success falls on your shoulders. If you aren’t taking a key interest in your employee’s wellbeing and development, they’re not going to work at their best.
Being on hand to help your staff and implementing all the tactics above into your operation are what will set your company apart from competitors, and most importantly, ensure your employees reach targets, goals, and flourish in their roles.
