Starting a Business All-In-One For Dummies

Chapter 2

Setting Goals

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 small and startup companies, the owner sets the overall purpose — the vision — of the organization. The owner then has the job of developing goals and plans for achieving that vision. Owners and employees work together to set goals and develop schedules for attaining them.

As a business owner, you're probably immersed in goals — not only for yourself, but also for your employees 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 goal of improving turnaround time first, or should I get to work on finishing the budget? Or maybe the 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.

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. It also guides you in communicating visions and goals and keeping both you and your employees on track to meet established goals.

Goals provide direction and purpose. ...