15. Set Specific and Relevant Goals

Your mission statement is your destination, and your plan is your direction. Next, you need to map out the specific path that will move you in the direction of your destination. Setting goals is important. Without a detailed roadmap, you might head off in the wrong direction.

Performance Prompts

• Goals are the details that move you in the direction of your destination. What specific steps are you going to take to meet your 98% customer satisfaction rate? In your plan you wrote, by learning all I can about my job and company. Your goals will include the steps necessary to accomplish that.

• After you write down your goals, prioritize them.

• Set goals that will move you toward your mission.

• Break down large or long-term goals into smaller, step-by-step goals that will be more manageable.

• Get input from those who are directly responsible for helping you meet the goals.

• Review the goals with your team, and discuss strategies for achieving them.

• When you meet your goals, set new ones. Goal setting is a continuous process.

• Review your progress, and revise goals if they need to be changed.

• Help your coworkers set goals for themselves.

When This Happens ...

After creating your mission statement and writing your plan, you sit down to write goals. You are confused, though. Shouldn’t your plan and mission statement be enough?

Try This

Wrong. The only way to make sure you stay on the right path is to put goals in writing.

Your mission statement says that you will satisfy customers on the first try.

Your plan says that you will strive to achieve a 98% customer satisfaction rating.

Your goals are going to map out what you will do to achieve the 98% rate.

For by learning all I can about my job and company, your goals might be:

• Review Customer Service Training 101 by XX/XX/XX.

• Analyze all my areas of improvement by XX/XX/XX.

• Write a development plan that focuses on my individual areas of improvement by XX/XX/XX.

• Ask my manager for brush up training to be completed by XX/XX/XX.

• Schedule a tour of other departments to have a better understanding of my company operation by XX/XX/XX.

Do less, but do it better.