"Who are goals really for?"

Here’s what I’ve noticed about goals: it’s almost always me, the manager, who brings them up. Rarely does someone say, “I’d like to discuss my goals". Unless it's close to review time, that is!

That got me wondering, what’s the true purpose of goals?

Are they a tool for managers, to help us measure and manage people?
Or are they meant to help individuals self-manage, giving them clarity and direction?

Too often, they feel like the former. A box to check, a measuring stick, something to justify ratings at review time.

But when goals are alive in the team’s own language, when people bring them into the conversation themselves, they stop being a management tool. They become a mirror. A way for individuals to steer their own growth, and for teams to align on what matters.

Maybe that’s the real test: if you’re always the one carrying the goals into the conversation, they’re probably yours. When your team starts carrying them, they’re theirs.
​
Until next time,
Dermot
The Messy Middle.

​

✉️ Enjoying The Messy Middle?​
If this sparked something useful, consider forwarding it to a colleague or friend, it might help them too.

If someone sent this email your way and you’d like to get it direct, you can sign up here.