How To Set Team Goals

The next time you are setting team goals, try these six steps:

1. 1. 1. Create a list of possible goals with input from your team.
      2. Get feedback on that list from managers whose teams are affected by the work you do.  (Don’t assume that what’s good for your team is good for everyone.)
      3. Decide with your manager which goals on the list align with your organization’s goals.
      4. Prioritize the top three. 
      5. Create a measure for each top goal using an “X to Y by When” formula. For example: We will decrease shipping time from 14 days (the “X”) to 7 days (the “Y”) by September 10 (the “When”).
      6. When you’ve completed the top three, return to the list, and start the process over again.

When you narrow the focus and include your team in the goal process, you’re more likely to gain their buy-in.

Leading a team requires a different skillset than working as an individual contributor. To succeed in the face of new challenges, first-level leaders need to shift how they think and act. Download our latest guide and develop your people into a high-performing team.