Objectives | Managers Guide: 7 Simple Steps to Setting Objectives

Most of us have heard of the acronym SMART but may well struggle with writing a SMART objective as it really isn’t as simple as you may originally think. Regardless, objectives cannot be ignored. They are vital to the performance management process; they help your staff to set goals for the business year and give employees something to grade their performance on come appraisal time. By using objectives, managers can understand how staff have performance against their objectives and make accurate decisions on whether they deserve pay increases, where they need development and what kind of objectives they should be set for the next year. In this Manager’s Guide on the 7 Simple Steps to Setting Objectives, we will provide you with a solid framework for this process to ensure that you are providing clarity and purpose for your employees.

Firstly, we should remind ourselves what SMART stands for:

S   Specific / Stretching
M Measurable
A  Achievable / Agreed
R  Relevant
T  Timed
E  Engaging
R  Reviewable

Step 1: What’s the purpose of setting objectives?