Papers-Thought Leadership Improving Outcomes Through Goal-Setting | Page 6

CREATING AN OPTIMAL FRAMEWORK
AT YOUR ORGANIZATION
Once you have completed the goal setting process, the
next steps is to ensure goal alignment throughout the
organization. That means that the goals are visible up,
down, and across the organization so that the entire
workforce clearly understands the overall goals, and
why they are important. Goal alignment—vertically and
horizontally—increases employee engagement, improves
retention, and accelerates operational execution.
Common vs. Aligned Focus
There are three primary steps to goal alignment:
1. Goal setting and/or re-alignment
2. Aligning leader then staff evaluations
Common Scenario:
Our Leaders and Their Actions
Aligned Scenario:
Our Leaders and Their Actions
3. Managing performance to align actions and
influence outcomes.
Goal cascading is the process of communicating and adopting
higher level goals to the next level down throughout the
organization. This process integrates goal setting at all levels
of the organization and ensures alignment.
Once organizational goals are created, a collaborative
discussion should take place with the department
leaders to discuss the best way their department can
influence the obtainment of that goal. Goals for each
department should also follow the SMART goal format,
but be specific to their area.
This alignment of goals and leader evaluations ensures each
individual’s journey does not conflict with the journey of
others. It avoids traffic jams and accidents as individuals
and leaders know how to—and have incentives to help
accelerate each other’s journey. They must complement
each other, not compete with one another.
Alignment of Goals, Performance
Evaluations and Accountability
C-Suite
Leader A
Front Line
Staff A
Leader B
Front Line
Staff B
Leader C
Front Line
Staff C
Leader D
Front Line
Staff D
Leader E
Front Line
Staff E
Goal alignment—vertically and horizontally—increases employee
engagement, improves retention, and accelerates operational execution.
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