Goal Ownership
October 13, 2023
One of the more valuable lessons I’ve gleaned from leading teams over the years pertains to instilling a sense of responsibility among teammates for both organisational and departmental objectives.
The best way to get your people to feel ownership of a goal is to set the goal with them and not for them.
In many organizations, goal-setting is a top-down process. When this happens, individuals perceive these goals as directives imposed upon them rather than something they truly identify with. As a result they are not fully invested in achieving the goals.
Conversely, when the goal-setting process is done collaboratively by involving team members, allowing them to define the goal and actively shape the plan, a distinctly heightened level of ownership and accountability emerges. In this scenario, the goals become personal to the team, and the plans are uniquely their own.
