Let's Talk About Goals

What do you think of when you hear someone talk about setting goals? If it is a business setting, maybe you think of those objectives tied to your annual review and salary compensation. You know, those things you don't really want to do, but your boss has to put something on the form to justify your salary. Goals.  

I did not have a good relationship with setting goals early in my career. My goals were to do my job well so I would continue to get paid and could pay my bills. Goal setting felt contrived and artificial. Writing down something I was going to do anyway so I could check the box at the end of the year was not empowering or motivational.

Looking back, I wish more of my employers recognized the value of goal setting is in the self-improvement through achievement, not in justifying your existence to the company. The "what have you done for me lately" mindset is defeating.  
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I think goals have value as long as they further the goal setter's personal growth in a meaningful way. Goals that will benefit a company do not have to be business-related. A natural side-effect of developing people is workforce satisfaction, which leads to increased productivity.
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I had a goal to travel more. That goal had nothing to do with my career or furthering the objectives of my employer. I was timid and somewhat isolated in my life experiences thus far. Traveling helped me to gain confidence and perspective on how to handle challenges as they arise. I was able to take this personal growth and apply it to my job, which overall made me a better employee. I gained experience interacting with people from diverse cultures, which directly translated to the global teams I worked with every day. I became an asset to my company because of a goal that had nothing to do with my prescribed duties.  

Goals are important. Goals help people develop not only skills but a sense of accomplishment and ownership in their self-improvement. Goals have to be personal to be effective. It is also OK not to have any current goals. Sometimes our goal is to get through the next hour, day, week, and not lose our sanity. The point of having goals is to develop people. When you develop people, the benefit to your business will come along naturally.