Goal setting is the first step in building an ultimately successful business. Goals define what you and your team want to achieve and in what time frame. So as a team you set the long-term goal, then the mid-term goals, and short-term goals. It will let your team know where you want the organization to go and how to get there.

At the start of each day, you should have an idea of what needs to be done in the business to take care of the day-to-day issues. You will need a clear vision of your goals for the day and for the week ahead. As you meet with your teams, you will share that vision so that they understand and buy into the reasons for your direction. Total team participation becomes so much better when the team feels they are true partners sharing in the vision. It is a win-win for all.

As a strategic thinker, you need to set the “big picture” to accomplish the goals, and then communicate those plans in a manner that allows your management team to build the strategies that brings all areas of the company together to meet the common goal. Your strategic plan should be the road map that sets your team’s direction. From there, they can frame the strategic plans that get from point A to point B and so on.

But the best of strategies doesn’t guarantee success. You and your team have to execute those strategies to completion. It’s at this stage where many organizations struggle. It’s easy to check off the quick and easy strategies that may get some daily goals accomplished. But to really achieve success, everyone must focus on and execute the big tasks. These are often the plans that require a lot of company interaction. For example, roadblocks are inadvertently set when a strong personality in one area doesn’t acknowledge the importance of the roles that others play in achieving the goals.   Ultimately, this can create a confrontational atmosphere that steers managers in other directions to avoid situations that might lead to conflict. Effective and complete execution of strategies is vital in reaching the ultimate goal.

Essentially, we all need to recognize the importance of setting realistic short- and mid-term goals and build strategies that move our organizations toward achieving the set goals. It starts with the ability to communicate the vision to the team so they can effectively execute the plans required to bring all courses of action together to reach the long term goals.

Speaking of goals, it’s almost time to register for the Expo in Columbus, OH this October. Now is the time to set realistic goals for the show this year that will help us all achieve success as we navigate our way through 2023 and into 2024.

Until next time,

Chris Means

NASGW Chairman