How do you adjust SMART goals for new hires based on changing priorities or challenges?

1 Assess the situation

The first step is to assess the situation that requires you to adjust your SMART goals for new hires. Is it a temporary or permanent change? Is it a minor or major shift? How does it affect your new hire's role, responsibilities, and performance? How urgent and important is it to make the adjustment? Answering these questions will help you determine the scope and impact of the change, and how much flexibility and support you need to provide to your new hires.

2 Communicate the change

The next step is to communicate the change to your new hires as soon as possible. Explain the reason and rationale behind the change, and how it affects their SMART goals. Be transparent and honest, and acknowledge any uncertainty or difficulty that the change may cause. Also, emphasize the benefits and opportunities that the change may bring, and how it aligns with the organization's vision and values. Make sure you listen to your new hire's feedback, concerns, and questions, and address them accordingly.

3 Revise the goals

The third step is to revise the SMART goals for your new hires based on the change. You may need to modify one or more of the SMART criteria, depending on the nature and extent of the change. For example, you may need to make the goals more specific or measurable, or adjust the achievability or relevance of the goals, or extend or shorten the time frame. The key is to make sure that the revised goals are still clear, realistic, and meaningful for your new hires, and that they reflect the new priorities or challenges.

4 Monitor the progress

The fourth step is to monitor the progress of your new hires towards their revised SMART goals. You may need to provide more frequent or intensive feedback, coaching, or mentoring, depending on the level of difficulty or complexity of the change. You may also need to use different tools or methods to track and measure the outcomes and results of the revised goals. The goal is to ensure that your new hires are still learning, growing, and performing well, and that they are adapting to the change successfully.

5 Celebrate the achievements

The final step is to celebrate the achievements of your new hires when they reach their revised SMART goals. Recognize and appreciate their efforts, skills, and contributions, and highlight how they have overcome the challenges and embraced the opportunities that the change has brought. You may also want to reward them with incentives, bonuses, or promotions, depending on your organization's policies and practices. The aim is to motivate and inspire your new hires to continue to excel and achieve in their roles, and to foster a positive and supportive culture in your organization.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?