Best Practices for Setting Goals

Published on April 11, 2016 |

You know the value of goal-setting for your employees. However, setting goals that aren’t attainable will kill motivation.

For sales teams, a significant goal may be to close a certain number of deals or acquire a specific number of leads in a given time period. Team leaders and managers have to balance setting a goal that is within reach with one that is also challenging.

Offer a Range
With goals that are too easily attainable, employees may not feel motivated, or they may lose inspiration to keep up the pace after reaching the target. On the other hand, employees could get discouraged by overwhelming goals. That’s why setting a range of goals—or a high-low target area, instead of a specific or hard number—gives employees flexibility and a realistic sense of accomplishment.

In fact, one study shows that setting these range goals can help sustain motivation. From a leader’s perspective, sustained motivation—and techniques like range goals—can carry a team to reach new heights and new levels of success.

High-Low Goals Lead to Persistence
In a study, 80% of participants who were assigned a range goal showed sustained motivation in reaching longer-term goals, compared with 50% who were assigned a single-number goal.

Let Webster Bank help your business strive to reach new goals with customized financial solutions. Contact your relationship manager today, at 855.274.2800.