Cioffi: How to create, manage goals your team can crush

The New Year is the perfect time for goal setting, but as with most things, goals are only as good as the folks who can accomplish them.

Creating and maintaining transparent goals is only half the battle, particularly in an industry like ours, where good labor is hard to come by. It's important to ensure everyone on your team knows how their role helps get the job done,

According to Inc. magazine, only about 8% of people follow through with their goals. This statistic alone can be discouraging, but it's important to stay determined and not let this number scare you.

At Tire Talent, we've spent a considerable amount of time defining our goals and taking steps toward achieving them — and it's a slow, methodical practice that we didn't perfect overnight.

One of the primary reasons goals fail in the workplace isn't because of poor execution or little motivation, but rather a lack of organization, which can cause things to go awry quickly. For those who don't see themselves as organized, having some semblance of structure is important for the entire team to succeed.

As many as 40% of workers feel they are very or extremely stressed out from work, according to a study from the American Institute of Stress. This stress results from disorganization, a heavy workload, and more importantly, a lack of goals.

Without goals, it's easy for employees to wonder if their work holds value, or if they're simply going through the motions. Now, more than ever, it's important to set your employees up for success.

This means eliminating some stress by setting goals, adding structure and welcoming room for collaboration. Here are some ways to create and manage goals that'll have your team working more efficiently and effectively.

When choosing a goal, start small. Be sure to select one that is relatively easy to achieve, but still requires effort. This way, employees don't lose motivation to succeed and instead learn to appreciate the reward that comes with hard work.

This could be anything from meeting a quarterly sales goal to bringing on a certain number of new clients in a quarter. No matter what you decide you want to do, make it interesting for your employees involved.

When it comes to setting goals, it's important to make sure to break things down step by step. This way, everyone has a clear understanding of what needs to be done and what can wait for further down the line.

Consider writing down a comprehensive plan and assigning each employee a set tasks to ensure they know the expectations that fall on them. When it comes to goals, you can never be too detailed.

Be sure to verify with your employees that they understand each step and feel they are able to work individually on them, when necessary. Do the same for groups, as well.

Checking in when setting goals will be the key in staying on track. From a weekly touch-base meeting to a simple checklist for colleagues to collaborate on, this small aspect holds great weight in the world of goals.

Individuals who struggle with a task are less likely to speak up about it without a set deadline, as it's easy to either forget about it or ignore it. Checking in holds them accountable and opens the floor for assistance, guidance — and can even allow employees to feel more comfortable at work.

Be sure to encourage employees to speak up and to commend them for their effort at these check-ins. Positive feedback can make all the difference in an employee's mindset.

While many employees appreciate praise from managers and/or supervisors, at the end of the day, giving them a reward will pay off more in the long run. Things like rewarding them with a catered lunch, a half day off or even monetary rewards are a sure way to keep them on track for success.

After all, many agree money is the top motivator.

It's important to continue to set goals if you want to see your company flourish. Once employees see the benefits of working together pay off, they likely will be on board to keep setting and achieving goals alongside one another.

When you succeed with smaller goals, don't be afraid to aim for larger ones. Past success is a direct reflection of the capability you have to achieve even bigger and better. Don't get discouraged; keep pushing forward.

One study says 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project. By continuing to set and further goals, you're only building a stronger team.

Mike Cioffi is the founder of Tire Talent, a boutique recruiting agency dedicated to our industry.