One of the greatest challenges you have as you lead your team is to keep the entire team pulling together in the same direction. Team leaders – business owners, human resources professionals, managers – address this challenge in a myriad of ways.
Many teams have adopted the principal of setting SMART goals at intentional planning sessions – perhaps a retreat, annual meeting, or maybe as part of a rhythm of team meetings. SMART goals are goals that are “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.”
Once your team determines a goal, however, your next challenge as a team leader is to keep your team focused on the goal as you resume your regular rhythms and routines. It can be hard to prioritize bigger picture goals over daily workload, after all, so finding the right mix of keeping the team focused without becoming pesky is key.
The key, in our opinion, is to build in active and passive reminders to your team to keep them focused on the goal. You can do this a number of ways:
Regular Check In
Build a goal check in on a periodic basis to your regular staff meetings. It will bring that goal front and center and feel non-confrontational.
Build in Visual Reminders
Track your progress to your goal visually, and put it in the line of vision of your team. If you have Retriever Digital Signage in your workplace, the thermometer tool is a perfect way to visually show your progress week to week. Here’s how to set that up:
Celebrate When You Succeed
A team that celebrates success is more motivated to continue to achieve success on future goals. Finding a way to celebrate achieving your goals – even if it’s just with an “atta’ boy” – will secure future buy in on your next goals.
We’d love to help you troubleshoot your company’s goals and help your team achieve new successes – set up a free consult, and we’d love to give you some free guidance.