MAKING GOALS: Effective and motivational goals engage employees in work they can realistically perform and complete, and which has been shown to be relevant both to the organization and to the employees interests.

MAKE THE GOAL-SETTING PROCESS A PARTNERSHIP: There are four kinds of goals you and your employees should discuss and develop together: 1. Routine. This is an extension of what people are already doing. Last year you produced 20,000 units; this year, youll turn out 22,000." Last period you trained 150 people. This time youll train 180. Youve been making 15 new business calls per week. Youll up that to 18. Theres some challenge, of course, to improving performance over that of the last time period, even if the goals are not particularly new or exciting. 2. Problem solving. Departmental errors are too high. Missed deadlines are too many. The work flow is sluggish. In short, you have problems. Set goals with employees that will identify problems and, hopefully, solve them. 3. Innovative. Your employees have the know-how to suggest new and better ways of doing things. Putting some of your best people to work on innovative goals makes good business sense and is motivating for employees. 4. Personal. What are your employees doing for themselves? What kind of training and education, skills building, or behavioral change could benefit an employee? What steps could the employee take to advance his or her ability and to become more valuable to the organization? Nothing is more important to employees than their personal objectives.