Finishing the year strong starts with early intention. Q4 comes fast and teams that prepare ahead of time gain a real advantage. Planning now and executing with focus ensures progress when it matters most.
Choosing a goal is the straightforward part; the real challenge is communicating that goal, why it was chosen, how it will be achieved, and who will be responsible along the way. Prepare your team now for the priorities they’ll work toward next quarter.
Lay the Goal Setting Groundwork
Your homework will come first. Determining what goal your team should work toward can be based on improving metrics, increasing productivity, launching a new process, or smoothing out the wrinkles of existing procedures. While it’s usually unnecessary to involve your team in the decision-making process, asking for input or feedback from key players like team leads or managers can steer the direction.
Setting a goal alone isn’t sufficient; it requires a roadmap to get there. Consider factors like who’s responsible for each step, when they’ll work on the goal, what roadblocks are expected, and what can be done to overcome challenges.
Get the Team on Board
Buy-in from employees contributing to the work of reaching the goal is essential. While there may be inherent contributions from the team’s responsibilities, communicating about the vision, plan, and what happens when the goal is achieved builds trust. Get the team on board with these steps:
- Identify what success looks like. Put a number to it, name a milestone to reach, or use a tangible way for the team to know when they’ve achieved it.
- Set clear priorities. Even if a goal is set, it may not take top priority. Be clear about the order of importance and be sure everyone knows what work comes first.
- Make goals equitable. Success may not be measured with the same achievement for every employee or team, so adjust expectations as needed.
- Be realistic. Prepare for roadblocks and have a proactive plan to respond to challenges.
- Know what comes after the goal is achieved. Create an attainable, sustainable plan for continuous improvement. Build a structure where the dedication, motivation, and drive don’t end when the goal is reached.
Sharing the goal, motivation, and impact of success with the team helps get everyone involved and committed.
Put the Right People in Place
When demand spikes due to seasonal upswings or workforce gaps, temporary workers can support your company in meeting production needs. Temporary workers help maintain productivity by quickly filling critical needs, bringing specialized skills, and reducing burnout of core employees, all with reduced hiring costs.
Communicating goals, ensuring the right staff is in place, and planning now for Q4 puts businesses on the path to success.
About Express Employment Professionals
At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/Employers or ExpressPros.ca/Employers.
