What are team objectives?

Ø       Objectives are the specific goals that the team will accomplish in a fixed amount of time.  These objectives flow from the team's purpose. Each one moves you towards your vision.

Ø       Team objectives support the team’s vision and purpose and the Company and/or Department objectives.

Why are team objectives important?

Ø       Team objectives are the basis of the team’s planned work. 

Ø       Team objectives should be the starting point for the employee objectives set as part of the performance management process.

Ø       Team objectives provide the basis for talent and resource planning.  They dictate the resources needed. 

Ways to develop team objectives

Team goals should be developed through a group process of team interaction and agreement.  Ways to facilitate this group process are:

Ø       Focused Team Workshop

Ask the team members to work alone and spend 15 minutes listing their own ideas for the team objectives.  Afterwards, organise the group the ideas, eliminate duplicates and decide on the main objectives you want to consider. Divide the team into small groups and have them discuss the benefits and resources required for each potential objective.  Ask them to prepare a mini-presentation to present their findings to the larger group.  Following the presentations, have another full group discussion, ensuring that each option has been thoroughly considered.  Lead the team in voting using secret ballots, to decide the top favoured objectives.  (Secret balloting is a way of getting team members’ views without the stronger, more powerful members of the group influencing the others.)    

To have a secret ballot, number the options to be voted on.  Give each team member a blank sheet of paper and have him or her write the numbers of their 3 (or so) favourite objectives on it.  Then collect the papers and count the votes.  

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