Managing For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Chapter 6. Goal Setting Made Easy

In This Chapter

• Linking goals to your vision

• Creating SMART goals

• Concentrating on fewer goals

• Publicizing your goals

• Following through with your employees

• Determining sources of power

If you created a list of the most important duties of management, "setting goals" would likely be near the top of the list. In most companies, senior management sets the overall purpose — the vision — of the organization. Middle managers then have the job of developing goals and plans for achieving the vision senior management sets. Managers and employees work together to set goals and develop schedules for attaining them.

As a manager, you're probably immersed in goals — not only for yourself, but also for your employees, your department, and your organization. This flood of goals can cause stress and frustration as you try to balance the relative importance of each one.

Should I tackle my department's goal of improving turnaround time first, or should I get to work on my boss's goal of finishing the budget? Or maybe the company's goal of improving customer service is more important. Well, I think I'll just try to achieve my own personal goal of setting aside some time to eat lunch today.

As you discover in this chapter, sometimes having too many goals is as bad as not having any goals. This chapter helps you understand why setting strong, focused goals is essential to your success and that of your employees. We also guide you in communicating visions and goals and keeping ...