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Without goals, your team will just go through the motions of their everyday workload doing what needs to be done. It’s unlikely they will  improve their skills, no real headway will be made, and they will not get any sense of satisfaction from their jobs. It may be okay in the short term, but in the long run, as individuals, we need goals to motivate and inspire us to action.

“The thing about goals is that living without them is a lot more fun, in the short run. It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow and who make an impact… those people have goals.”

 – Seth Godin

To maximise your team’s results, you need to create clear goals and accountability and likely to be the most beneficial thing you can do for your team. It enables them to be the best they can be, and they will work smarter and harder, simply to reach their goals.

Limit procrastination

One of the biggest issues when it comes to meeting our goals is procrastination. Undoubtedly it will have affected you and your team at some point in time. It is a huge goal killer and will only add to stress levels when the work fails to be completed on schedule.

Avoiding something we dislike in favour of something else is still a form of procrastination. You may think you are putting it off until a later date, however, pushing those less attractive tasks to the bottom of the pile will not make them go away.

Here are some of our top tips to get over procrastination and improve your team’s motivation levels.

• Split the tasks into smaller more achievable jobs to lessen the stress.
• Convey the importance of the work to ensure it gets done in a timely fashion.
• Accurately prioritise the to-do list so important tasks don’t get pushed to the bottom.
• Delegate the planning to your team to maintain a high sense of responsibility.
• Reduce interruptions to stay on track.

 “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

 – Pablo Picasso

Improve time management

Poor time management skills are another issue which can seriously affect your team’s ability to complete their goals. Managing time is not about working harder or staying late. It is more about working efficiently, so everything gets done in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of stress. If you want to help your team with their time management skills, then consider these points.

• Maintain a clear list of deadlines and goals at all times.
• Implement easy to follow systems to make sure everyone knows what needs to be done.
• Ensure your team feels accountable for their workload to avoid any shirking of responsibility.
• Reschedule the unimportant goals so the real deadlines are met.
• Clarify the team’s expectations to avoid any misunderstanding.

With less procrastination and improved time management skills, your team will be able to increase their productivity. Once that occurs, they will find it easier to meet the goals you have set both individually and as a team. Having goals will minimise the distractions and keep everyone focused. It really is a win-win for all.

If you would like to learn more about goal setting, procrastination or time management, then visit our professional training library. It offers a wide range of resources for the busy leader to enable you to meet your goals and increase your chances of success.