Setting Team Member Performance Goals

Here’s a simple truth: good goal-setting helps motivate team members. When they have reached an agreement with a team lead on what those goals are, people are more likely to accomplish what they set out to do and perform better. Goals that are relevant to their personal aspirations keep them more engaged.

When performance goals are clearly defined, they can be measured more easily, help determine a better purpose for each team member, and often create a specific career path for them.

One more truth shouldn’t be overlooked — setting better performance goals will help everyone thrive.

Here are a few facts to back that up:

• Teams that set goals achieve 20 to 25% improved work performance have more self-confidence and are less stressed, happier, and more productive at work
• Team member performance increases by up to 22% when their goals are aligned with organizational priorities and helps them meet changing needs, collaborate with peers, and hold themselves accountable

10 Performance Goal Examples

Here are 10 examples of goal-setting themes:

1. Self-Leadership Goals Improving personal abilities on your own for the betterment of yourself, your team, and your company.
2. Collaboration Goals Supporting colleagues in achieving their goals will directly influence personal motivation, productivity, and performance.
3. Creativity Goals Cultivating creative thinking to improve the implementation of assigned duties and tasks.
4. Soft Skills Goals Developing core skills – common or people skills generally not taught in school to create a happier workplace with more engaged team members.
5. Decision-Making Goals Thinking objectively to make choices based on available information, time sensitivity, and relevant performance priorities.
6. Leadership Goals Showing ability as a team player, using communication skills to motivate others, preparing others for success, and aligning with different departments to strengthen the entire company's operation.
7. Emotional Intelligence Goals Keeping emotions in check, no matter what kind of day people have.
8. Negotiating Goals Creating a healthy dialogue between parties to reach common ground with others and help resolve conflicts in the workplace quickly.
9. Professional Development Goals Increasing personal abilities, expertise, or experience to stay relevant in a competitive economic market.
10. Virtual Communication Goals Learning to adapt to an evolving work environment by strengthening communication skills.

Performance goals vs. development goals

Performance goals are different from development goals.

Goals of performance focus on a team member’s daily priorities for accomplishing specific duties while supporting overall company goals.

A sample goal for team members would be to implement a new process for the team, such as video conferencing. The team member would choose the product, determine the steps required to make the conferencing process ready for use and make a deadline for launch.

Goals of development focus on a team member’s aspirations for personal growth, elevated performance through learning, and advancement in their career.

A sample goal for a team member would be to improve a skill, such as public speaking. The team member would participate in skill-based training, such as public speaking lessons. They would determine a timeline and a way to measure performance, such as getting feedback on their speeches after each class for six months.

Read the full article from Ninety for examples on how to set Team Member Performance Goals.