Corporate Objectives for All Employees
Do most employees even know what their company’s mission statement is? After all, the average worker views corporate objectives as things that are only important to the wealthy business owners or to the media for PR purposes. The fact is that when each employee is cognizant of the corporate objectives, understands them, and believes in working toward those goals, the company as a whole benefits and works as a well-oiled machine. So how can you create corporate objectives that permeate to all levels of a company?
If you want everyone in the company to be on-board with corporate objectives, there are a few guidelines that all of the objectives have to meet. First of all, they have to be measurable. If there is no way to know if a goal is met, then there is no reason for the average person to work towards it. Another vital factor is that goals be attainable. If you set the carrot too far away, even the hungriest bunny will stop chasing it. The goals also have to be relevant to your average worker. Most people are concerned about what is in it for them. If you can show them that, and why they are an integral part of reaching the goal, they are more likely to throw themselves into their work wholeheartedly. Finally, you have to set a timeline. If there is no end date for reaching a goal, then there is no sense of urgency driving someone to be efficient and productive.
With that in mind, you need to focus on good in-house training. Most companies have worthless orientation training, and some businesses outsource the actual teaching to someone who doesn’t even work in the same field. If you’re corporate officers take time out to train new recruits and instill corporate values in them, all involved will feel a part of something bigger than just showing up to get a paycheck.
Another thing to keep in mind is to be approachable. If corporate officers are seen on the floor helping employees and answering questions, supervisors are perceived as being on the front lines with them rather than simply ruling from above. It works to create a sense of pride that motivates employees to work for the good of the business as a whole, instead of feeling like they have to look out for #1. It also let’s substandard employees see that you haven’t given up on them, which engenders greater effort.
In the end, while some of these practices will cost money, or even the precious time of corporate officers, to implement, a sense of company pride will go a long way when it comes to reaching goals in the workplace.
