While at work, you may hear the repetition of goals and objectives over and over by your colleagues and superiors.
Setting a goal for any organization is essential. It determines the vision for the company, the outlook for the future, and a business plan for employees. The best goals should align with the company’s mission and vision. It should describe the company’s long-term aims and aspirations without explaining how to get there.
However, without objectives, goals can be hard to reach. So What is the Difference Between Goals and Objectives? Let’s take a look…
Contents
What Are Goals?
A goal is a statement about what a company desires for the future. This can be a 1-year goal or a 20-year goal. There are no limits to what we wish and want to achieve. A goal, however, does not describe the methods by which we achieve it. It only sets out the information on what a company aims for.
Setting goals is an essential part of business planning since a well-defined idea will have an impact on your mission statement, financial objectives, company culture, and marketing strategy.
Creating a vision for the future…
Goals motivate businesses and employees towards an outcome. Suppose you are a company with excellent employee engagement and a positive work environment with employees willing to go above and beyond. Goals are an excellent thing for them to work towards and can gift a great sense of achievement once they are reached!
Common Business Goals Include:
- Increasing Profits.
- Growing Revenue.
- Excellent Efficiency.
- Strengthen Customer Service Skills.
- Creating a Brand.
- Reduce Employee Turnover.
- Increase Companies Share in Markets.
- Open five New Offices.
What Are Objectives?
Objectives get down to the nitty-gritty. They are more specific and come with more detail. They often also have a smaller time frame. Once a clear goal is set, the objectives come into play and inform businesses and employees on how to reach the goal. Objectives are precise steps that move businesses closer to the final goal.
For example, a company may have the goal to be the most profitable marketing firm in the state. Objectives that could bring the company closer to the goal may include; increasing its business sales by 8% each quarter, improving client retention rates by 5% each month, or adding a new product to the company by the end of the year.
Common Business Objectives Include:
- Increase Product Market Share.
- Reduce Employee Turnover and Increase Satisfaction.
- Minimize Errors and Maximise Productivity.
- Cut Down Operating Costs by 10%.
- Increase Employee Retention by 50%.
What Is The Difference Between Goals And Objectives?
Goals are clear outcomes you want to achieve; they could look a little abstract or like the big picture. Objectives are the way to accomplish that goal. How you go about things and the measures you will take to reach the final goal.
The objectives are more detailed. They do, however, work in harmony. If you set up goals with no objective, you run the risk of them not being achieved and, in turn, reducing employee motivation and satisfaction.
Scope
Goals are made broad. They are often hard to imagine and measure. Objectives are narrower; they contain specific tasks to complete to get a step closer to the final goal.
Order and Alignment
Goals are in higher order and considered a higher priority than objectives. A goal aims to achieve an individual or company’s mission, and objectives are set to accomplish the final goal.
Language
Goals are described in broad concepts. Objectives are described in actionable language using creative words to achieve the goal.
Specificity
Goals should not list specific tasks that need to be completed. A goal should only give a general understanding of what should be achieved. The objectives should list the individual jobs that need to be completed to reach the goal.
Tangibility
There must be a solution or way to reach every goal; for example, a goal such as improving customer service is intangible. There must be a tangible counterpart, such as; increasing the customer service team and reducing customer waiting time to one week.
Timeframe
Goals are often made to achieve over a more extended period. Goals can even be listed for up to 20 years. However, objectives are there to be completed in a shorter time frame. This means one single goal is often divided into a number of smaller objectives spread out in time.
The Benefits Of Setting Goals In The Workplace
Once a company truly understands the differences between goals and objectives, it enables it to reach its full potential by allocating employees to complete the tasks. Goals set the direction and aspirations of an individual or company’s efforts without describing how to get there. Objectives list the smaller tasks in which way the goal will become achievable.
Business goals should ultimately align with the company’s vision and mission. An individual’s goals should align with their career aspirations.
Goals direct you and focus your efforts
Goals give you an idea of where you want to be. A little bit like travel, knowing your final destination gives you an idea of how you should move to get there. The goals are similar. Having an end idea can push you to create the objectives to arrive there.
Get your Priorities Straight
Goals allow you to focus on your main priority and outcome for the future. Setting goals allows you to look at what is most important to you and the company and reach for that goal first. Knowing where your priorities lay allows you to focus your efforts on what is important and cause fewer distractions and time-wasting.
Goals push you to Success
Engaging in goals or having an end game allows you to push yourself and get excited. If there are no clear goals or objectives in the workplace, work can be boring. Knowing you are working towards something that will better your career or your company can be fulfilling and exciting.
Motivation
Goals motivate teams and individuals. It gives people something to work towards and, once achieved, allows people to realize that goals can be reached. The sense of satisfaction that comes with achieving a goal is enough to create another goal to work toward. This then creates a strong team of employees who are willing to work hard, which, of course, creates a better business.
The Benefits Of Objectives
Measure Progress
Again, goals are a broad scope. Objectives allow you to measure the progress to achieve the goal. Objectives divide goals into smaller chunks, and each objective that is complete is a step closer to the final goal.
Accomplishment
Completing objectives allows you to feel accomplished. This will then lead to more motivation among employees to complete the next objective.
Increase Confidence
Once an individual or team has completed a few objectives and things become clearer, it builds confidence that the specific goal is achievable. Often goals can seem broad and too much, but completing an objective is one step closer.
Simplify difficult decisions
If you are in a difficult situation, unsure what to do, looking back at your objectives can give you a clear path of what to take. It can decrease stress, too, and help you focus your ideas back on the main goal in place.
Tips for Creating Clear Objectives
- Create measurable targets.
- Set up objectives for different departments so you can establish the desired outcomes for each team of employees.
- Describe the desired outcome first.
- Relate all objectives to the desired goals of the company
- Keep all employees responsible for completing the objectives in the know.
- Make sure objectives are specific, achievable, realistic, and can be completed in a suitable time frame.
Inspiration From Other Companies In The Know
Take a look at these company’s mission and vision statements which can be used as guidance for your company’s goals and objectives, we have our Google Mission and Vision Statement Analysis, our Amazon Mission and Vision Statement Analysis, as well as our Lululemon Mission and Vision Statement Analysis, and our Adidas Mission and Vision Statement Analysis, in 2023.
Having the confidence in your role at work to put your vision into action is vital, so we found The Self Confidence Workbook, the Self-Confidence Strategies for Women, or how about The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance, and Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior, to boost your self-esteem and take charge at work!
In addition, I also recommend reading up on Unstoppable Self Confidence and The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt, or my top choice, Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem, all available online today.
What Is The Difference Between Goals And Objectives? – Final Thoughts
Defining company goals is an essential factor for any company. It allows employees and businesses to have an understanding of where they want to be in the future.
But remember, goals and objectives work in tandem. You need objectives to reach your final goal.
Good luck and all the success in setting your Goals And Objectives!