CASCADING OBJECTIVES: GROWING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

bluepointadminGrowing Employee Engagement

CASCADING OBJECTIVES: GROWING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Setting company objectives annually and communicating those objectives to all employees creates a clear roadmap that can inspire and motivate at all levels within an organization. Clear objectives that are aligned across the organization help employees to understand how their day to day and project work are linked to company goals. Creating this cascading alignment helps employees understand how they fit into the big picture and how their efforts contribute to the bottom line success of the business.

Here are some key tips to help your business develop roadmaps that inspire and engage:

  • Set organizational objectives at the beginning of each fiscal year to ensure that business goals are current and reflect the reality of the business for the year to come. The specific objectives will change year to year as your company evolves and grows.
  • Start by setting objectives at the corporate level and cascading objectives to each organizational level sequentially, ensuring alignment and relevance at each level.
  • Make objectives measurable and realistic by creating simple goals which identify specific deliverables and are time bound.
  • Involve team members from the start and throughout the objective building exercise to get buy in and commitment.
  • Communicate objectives freely and often in the form of a roadmap with company branding. Post and market the roadmap at every opportunity: intranet, employee boards, internal communications.
  • Follow-up on a quarterly basis to provide status of corporate objectives. Communicate the achievements and wins but also the opportunities for improvement and the why’s behind them.
  • Allow adjustments to objectives throughout the year given business realignments or change in focus. Communicate how the change might impact departmental objectives.
  • Create a specific objective for the company values which promote employee engagement.
  • Set no more than 5 to 6 specific objectives at each level within the organization.
  • Create a venue for continuous employee feedback and encourage employees to communicate their ideas and thoughts on the “state of the company”.

What are the hit & misses you have seen in your organization when it comes to the exercise of setting goals and creating alignment?