Goals are a great way to improve team performance. Clear goals with measurable standards should be developed and agreed with the team. An easy way to help determine which team goals should be to use the four Cs of goal setting. Cs stand for clarity of goals, measurable criteria, worthwhile challenge, and team commitment.
Clarity in a team objective it means that it is easily understood by all the members involved. The definition of the goal is specific enough that there are no misunderstandings about what needs to be achieved and the team fully understands what is expected of them. With a clear goal, those working towards it will know what they need to do or learn to achieve their goal. Clarification ensures that the team understands why the goal is valuable and relevant for them to work toward it.
Criteria A goal spells out the performance measures that need to be achieved so that the team knows it has reached its goal. The criterion is a unit of measure in quantity or percentage that must be achieved during a specific period of time and agreed by the team. Having this criteria provides regular feedback for the team throughout the course of the goal so they can make adjustments to their work and behaviors. Without this information, it is difficult for the team to understand their reward and recognition structure, develop their work plan, and request adjustments or help with barriers when necessary.
Challenge Inside the goal is a way to give the team the opportunity to develop their skills and show what they can do. A meaningful goal should not simply maintain the status quo or achieve a little more. Instead, it should motivate the team to put in effort without breaking the mood or greatly interfering with their quality procedures or necessary routine tasks. A goal that is too small or too big can be more damaging than challenging or motivating.
Commitment It is the team that accepts responsibility and accountability for reaching the goal. The best way to achieve team commitment is for the team to participate in the goal setting process. The team must understand how their goal fits with the organization’s visions, mission, and objectives. In order for the team to commit to any goal, it must participate in the decision-making process and receive the appropriate information or training to learn what they can achieve and why it is important.
Use the Cs to create clarity on team goals, assign measurable criteria, offer a worthwhile challenge, and achieve total team commitment. The Four Cs are a simple way to determine what your team’s goals should be. Clear team goals with agreed upon measures are one of the best ways to improve team performance.