Managers need to set great goals to succeed as they make day-to-day decisions that affect the organization. And it is not just about having them, but also achieving them on time. The SMART model is one way of ensuring that your goals are achievable by making them specific, measurable, action-oriented with timeframes, relevant, and trackable.
It also means that there is accountability for achieving those smart goals. However, many managers struggle with setting smart goals because they don’t always know how best to word and reach them.
What Should a Manager do to set Smart Motivational Goals?
A manager should set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, “increase sales by 20% in the next quarter” is a specific goal that can be measured (you can track sales numbers), is achievable (it’s not impossible), is relevant to the company’s overall success, and has a timeline attached to it.
“Be more productive” or “be more creative” are not specific goals, and are therefore harder to measure and achieve.
To determine if your goals are smart and motivating, there are some questions you need to ask yourself. First, are your goals excite and energize you? Are you eager to get started on them? Second, do your goals align with what you trying to achieve?
Third, do your goals challenge and inspire you to step up and have a go? And fourth, are your goals realistically attainable? If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, then chances are good that you have set smart motivational goals.
If your answer is “no” to the above questions, here are 16 good examples of smart goals for managers that can help you everyday at work:
1. Reduce Customer Complaints
Reduce customer complaints by 5% in the first quarter of this year. You will do this by reviewing all customer complaints received during the previous quarter. Then identifying trends and how to better prevent them, then train your staff on new processes to ensure customer dissatisfaction issues do not occur again.
Specific: The goal is to decrease customer complaints by 5% in the year’s first quarter, achieved by reviewing past issues and training staff on new procedures.
Measurable: Progress will be assessed by comparing first-quarter complaint figures with the previous quarter’s numbers.
Achievable: This realistic goal can be reached by analyzing complaints for patterns and implementing improved training methods.
Relevant: The objective aligns with the company’s focus on exceptional customer service, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.
Time-bound: The deadline is the first quarter of this year, emphasizing urgency and a specific timeframe for goal attainment.
2. Improve Customer Service Productivity
Improve productivity by 20% in August by re-examining existing processes and procedures to reduce wait time for customers and improve the quality of service. This will be measured by determining the number of calls completed per hour or the amount of time spent on each call.
Specific: The goal is to increase productivity by 20% in August by re-examining processes and procedures to reduce customer wait time and improve service quality.
Measurable: You will measure productivity by the number of completed calls per hour or the time spent on each call to track progress towards the 20% increase.
Achievable: The target of a 20% increase is realistic through implementing process improvements and identifying areas for enhancement.
Relevant: Improved productivity means providing efficient and effective service, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Time-bound: The deadline of August creates a sense of urgency and ensures a focused effort on achieving the goal.
Read also: 14 Key Areas of Improvement for Managers
3. Reduce Department Expenditure
Reduce your department expenditure by 10% and keep expenses under control this financial year by regularly monitoring for unusual spending patterns that could lead to budget overruns and performing an annual audit for all supplies expenses. This will be measured by the net change in operating expenses from this month to the last.
Specific: The goal is to reduce department expenditure by 10% through regular expense monitoring and an annual supplies audit.
Measurable: Quantify progress by tracking the net monthly change in operating expenses.
Achievable: With regular expense monitoring and an annual audit, you can achieve a 10% reduction.
Relevant: This goal aligns with managing costs and optimizing departmental efficiency.
Time-bound: Implement the necessary measures throughout the year to achieve the 10% reduction in department expenditure.
4. Increase Employee Engagement
Increase employee engagement from the current level of 73% to 80% within six months. To do this, you will hold an annual employee engagement survey twice a year and ensure that all employees are engaged in the following five areas; achieving company goals, management’s leadership, my rewards, my career, communication with management.
Specific: Clearly outline the goal of raising employee engagement from 73% to 80% by conducting biannual surveys and targeting key areas.
Measurable: Quantify and track progress using surveys and feedback to measure employee engagement levels.
Achievable: Implement necessary measures, such as regular surveys, action plans, and improvement identification, to attain the goal of increasing employee engagement from 73% to 80%.
Relevant: Enhance employee productivity, commitment, and satisfaction by increasing engagement and improving business outcomes like profitability and customer satisfaction.
Time-bound: Establish a six-month timeline to instill a sense of urgency and concentration on increasing employee engagement from 73% to 80%.
5. Improve Food Quality Control
Improve quality control over the food served at the staff restaurant by implementing a standardized training program for all employees in handling food and ensuring thorough sanitization of all equipment before use. The training program should be completed within a month from today and must take at least two weeks.
Specific: The goal outlines a clear objective (improve quality control over the food served) and a method (implementing a standardized training program).
Measurable: The goal is measurable because it can be tracked using data on food quality control and sanitation practices before and after the training program.
Achievable: The goal is achievable because implementing a standardized training program is a practical way to improve quality control.
Relevant: The goal is appropriate because improving quality control over the food served is part of providing a safe and healthy workplace for employees.
Time-bound: The goal is time-bound because it has a set deadline (within a month from today, with training not taking longer than two weeks to complete) for completion..
6. Create Measurable Goals for Team Leaders
Create a list of 10 measurable goals for your team leaders that each should achieve within the next three months. Each goal should have a target date, and all team leaders should meet with you each month to review how they are performing against set goals or targets.
Specific: This goal states that you will create a list of 10 measurable goals for your team leaders to achieve within three months.
Measurable: The goal is measurable because it sets a target of 10 goals and a deadline, and you plan to review progress with your team leaders each month.
Achievable: It is feasible to achieve this goal by breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps.
Relevant: The goal is relevant because it helps you, as a manager, to set clear expectations and facilitate progress among your team leaders.
Time-bound: There is a deadline for achieving the measurable goals within the next three months, and progress will be reviewed every month.
7. Holding a One-on-One Meeting with Every Employee
Good examples of smart goals for managers include having a one-on-one meeting with every employee at least once per month. Set a SMART goal to have at least two one-on-one meetings with each employee per month. Ensure that everyone knows their goals and how you will measure the performance against them.
Specific: This is a well-defined, clear, and unambiguous goal of monthly one-on-one meetings with each employee.
Measurable: You can measure progress by keeping track of the number of one-on-one meetings held with each employee per month.
Achievable: The goal is practical and within reach, as it is possible to have two one-on-one meetings with each employee monthly.
Relevant: Regular one-on-one meetings with employees are highly relevant, as it helps you establish strong relationships with them, identify areas of improvement, and provide guidance and support.
Time-bound: The timeframe is one month, as you aim to have two one-on-one meetings with each employee monthly.
Read also: 10 Questions for Employees to Evaluate Managers
8. Improve your Relationship with Employees
Set a goal to have one positive conversation with each of your employees every day and keep track of the conversation in your journal. Track the outcome of each conversation in your journal (whether it was positive or negative and what you learned from it).
Specific: The goal clearly outlines what needs to be done: having a positive conversation with each employee every day and keeping track of it in your journal.
Measurable: Your goal is measurable because you track each conversation in your journal and note whether it is positive or negative. This allows you to evaluate your progress over time and identify opportunities for improvement.
Achievable: The goal is attainable as it seamlessly integrates into your daily routine. In addition, having positive conversations with your employees can help build stronger relationships and improve morale.
Relevant: It aligns with your job as a manager and contributes to creating a positive work culture. Positive conversations with employees can help improve their overall performance.
Time-bound: You have set yourself the task of having one positive conversation with each of your employees every day and keeping track of it in your journal.
9. Enhance Your Focus and Concentration
Set a goal to meditate for 5 minutes every day at 10:00 am and again at 2:00 pm. Keep track of how long you can concentrate during these sessions in your journal. Each week, try to improve this time by 1 minute until you have reached 15 minutes per session (5 times per week).
Specific: Your goal clearly outlines what needs to be done: meditating for 5 minutes twice a day at specific times to increase concentration time.
Measurable: Your goal is measurable as you track how long you can concentrate during meditation sessions in your journal. And you aim to increase your concentration time by 1 minute each week until you reach 15 minutes per session (5 times per week), allowing you to track your progress and success over time.
Achievable: You start with a short meditation period of only 5 minutes and gradually increase it by 1 minute each week, making it realistic and achievable.
Relevant: The goal will improve concentration and focus, making it worthwhile.
Time-bound: You set specific times to meditate every day, and you have also set the timeline for increasing the concentration period each week.
10. Manage Emails Effectively
Set a goal to reduce the amount of time spent reading emails by 25% for a month (from 40 hours to 30 hours). Record the total number of emails received and sent and how much time spent reading and writing emails. Compile this information into a report that shows your progress from the beginning to the end of the month.
Specific: Your goal clearly outlines what needs to be done: to reduce the time spent reading emails by 25% for a month and to record relevant data to compile into a report.
Measurable: You track the total number of emails received and sent and the time spent reading and writing emails, all recorded into a report. This will enable you to measure progress achieved over time.
Achievable: Your goal is possible because a 25% reduction is a reasonable and achievable target. This means reducing email reading time from 40 hours to 30 hours per month.
Relevant: The goal addresses the time-consuming habit of spending too much time reading and replying to emails, which can impact productivity and lead to a poor work-life balance.
Time-bound: This goal is time-bound since there is a specific target of achieving a 25% reduction over a month, with reports collated to confirm progress made.
11. Teach Team Members Something New
Every month teach at least five team members something they didn’t know before (be specific). For example, train five team members about Project 2021 or the latest Microsoft Word. Keep track of how many hours are spent in monthly training sessions. The number should be realistically achievable for yourself as well as others.
Specific: The goal outlines the exact task: to teach at least five different team members something they didn’t know before, using specific examples such as Microsoft Project 2021 or the latest Microsoft Word.
Measurable: You are keeping track of how many hours you spend in training sessions across the entire month, enabling you to measure your progress towards achieving the target of training at least five team members.
Achievable: The goal has a reasonable target. You aim to teach each team member something specific, making it manageable for you and your team members.
Relevant: It is aligned with the broader objective of increasing productivity, skill development, and expanding knowledge within the team.
Time-bound: The goal has a specific time frame of one month to teach at least five team members something new, with the same number of training hours. This enables you to track progress toward achieving the goal.
Read more: 8 Examples of What to Tell Your Manager to Improve On
12. Increase the Number of Daily Sales Calls
Increase the number of sales calls made in a day by 10% (for example, from 5 to 6 calls). Keep track of the number of sales calls made for the whole month, and you should find that the number has increased.
Specific: The goal outlines a clear task — to increase the number of sales calls made daily by 10%.
Measurable: It is measurable because you can track the number of sales calls made each day for the whole month, making it easy to identify whether you have achieved the 10% increase.
Achievable: The goal is possible because you only require a modest increase of 10%, a real improvement in the number of calls made daily.
Relevant: Increasing the number of sales calls made in a day can lead to a corresponding increase in sales, ultimately contributing to the company’s success.
Time-bound: This goal has a specific time frame of one month to achieve the desired 10% increase, motivating you to stay focused and work consistently to hit this target.
Time-bound: You set a specific timeframe of delivering at least 12 hours of training to your direct reports and their subordinates, which enables you to track progress and measure success.
13. Completing Your Certification
Get certified as a Certified Financial Planner by completing a training course and passing the exam this year. By doing so, you will be able to serve clients better with comprehensive financial planning advice. It will also increase your self-confidence, enhance your company’s reputation in the industry and differentiate yourself from other financial planners.
Specific: This goal outlines a clear objective of getting certified as a Certified Financial Planner by completing a specific training course and passing the exam this year.
Measurable: You can track your progress towards completion by monitoring your preparation for the course and keeping track of the number of hours spent on training and preparing for the exam.
Achievable: The goal is achievable because a specific course is designed to prepare you for the Certified Financial Planner exam. With proper preparation and determination, passing the exam is feasible.
Relevant: By becoming a Certified Financial Planner, you will be able to provide better financial planning advice to clients, enhancing your company’s reputation.
Time-bound: You have a specific time frame of completing the training course and passing the Certified Financial Planner exam within this year, enabling you to track progress towards achieving the goal.
14. Improve Your Presentation Skills
Prepare at least ten presentation templates for different client meetings, workshops, or conferences to summarize complex information in an easy-to-understand way. And practice two times a day how to comfortably present each template to clients within one minute. Start at 3 minutes and gradually lower that to 2 minutes until you can confidently deliver each template within a one-minute target.
Specific: The goal outlines a clear objective: to prepare at least ten presentation templates for different meetings, workshops, or conferences to summarize complex information in an easy-to-understand way.
Measurable: This goal is measurable because you can track your progress toward completing the ten templates. And you are practicing two times a day to present each template to clients within one minute, gradually lowering that to 2 minutes until you can confidently deliver each template within a one-minute target.
Achievable: You have provided a clear action plan to create new templates while also practicing presenting them daily to clients.
Relevant: This goal will contribute to the broader objectives of effectively communicating complex information to clients, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and business success.
Time-bound: To complete ten presentation templates and practice presenting them every day until you can confidently deliver them within one minute.
15. Ask Employees to Identify the 5 top Goals
Ask employees to identify the five goals they want to accomplish in the next three months and create a plan to achieve their goals. You will meet with each employee individually to discuss their goals and create a plan to achieve those goals.
You will coach employees on setting realistic expectations, identifying priorities, and delegating tasks to leverage the strengths of other team members.
Specific: This goal is specific because it outlines a clear task — to ask employees to identify five goals they want to accomplish in the next three months and create a plan to achieve them by meeting with each employee individually.
Measurable: You will be able to track each employee’s progress through their goals and achievement. In addition, you can measure your success by monitoring how many employees have accomplished their goals in the given timeframe.
Achievable: This goal is achievable because coaching your employees on goal-setting, prioritization, and delegation helps them to realize the goals they want to accomplish while ensuring that the goals are realistic and achievable.
Relevant: The goal is relevant because it will increase employee productivity, engagement, and satisfaction and achieve overall business goals.
Time-bound: The goal has a specific three-month period to identify and achieve goals, enabling you to track progress and measure success.
16. Build Productive Habits
Set at least one realistic goal each month to build a productive habit. For example, you may decide that you will spend no more than one hour reading and replying to emails every day.
You could also define your purpose and put key reminders around your office desk to make sure you don’t forget why you are working hard to achieve your goals.
Specific: This goal is specific because it outlines a clear objective – setting at least one realistic goal each month to help you build a productive habit. You may limit the time spent reading and replying to emails to improve productivity or define your purpose.
Measurable: It is measurable because you can track the number of goals set and measure progress toward building productive habits.
Achievable: The goal is achievable because it is realistic to set at least one realistic goal each month. These small wins build on your progress and can lead to significant improvement over time.
Relevant: This goal aligns with the broader goal of building productive habits, which can lead to increased efficiency and better performance.
Time-bound: The goal is time-bound because you have set a specific timeframe of one month to achieve each goal, making progress measurable and ensuring you stay on track.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to set goals when there are so many obstacles in the way. However, by identifying these potential issues and determining how to proceed around them, you can achieve your goal with ease.
One thing that often holds people from achieving their goals is fear of failure or lack of confidence. So, don’t let fear control you and plan ahead to ensure that you are making progress towards these goals.