When setting performance goals, focus on development of skills, not just results
Certain skills will help individuals achieve goals. Consider setting goals to develop skills in the areas of time management, teaming, listening, presenting, coaching, planning, and assertiveness.
Help each employee set goals in an area that needs improvement. If an employee believes the skill is one that will help build her career, she is more likely to buy into the goal. You also show the employee that you are “for her,” building the foundation for buy-in to future goals.
Encouraging Others to Succeed
Kelsey has superior technical skills but she is shy. She consistently declines to make presentations to key customers on behalf of her team.
Tell her you want her to succeed and encourage her to focus on developing her presentation and public speaking skills. Support her by locating development resources, such as a local Toastmasters International group, a speech coach, or a course. Suggest that she set a goal of giving a presentation to a key customer by the second quarter. She’ll be pleased that you’ve endorsed her potential and provided tools to help her attain her goal.
Coaches help athletes achieve top performance. Today, more and more managers and professionals rely on coaching skills to get top performance from their teams. In each tip, the Coach’s Clipboard brings you valuable coaching insights.
