Objective Setting - Succeed in 2024
As we enter 2024, it’s a pleasure to be able to contribute to this New Year’s blog for the Civil Service College. The start of the year is always a good moment to reflect on our career development, and commit to finding the time during the coming year to learn something new and invest in some training.
I was asked to say something on the important topic of “Objective Setting" – a key component in any organisation’s success, and a subject which I know the DG regards as a core part of our new Civil Service Strategy. So here goes:
The first thing I would say about Objective Setting is that it must be part of those early conversations we will all have as we enter the new 2024 delivery and appraisal period - answering the questions: “Why are we doing this” and “What do we need to do in order to achieve this goal?”. It’s useful for everyone in our teams to have the answers to these questions at the top of their mind when they are asked by our ministers, media or even family members – “what is your job?”
Secondly, having clear objectives and goals is obviously key to our results based delivery. Keep the topline objectives short and simple, otherwise they can become confused. Leaders and managers: Make sure you repeat them regularly to your teams – they are probably not as obvious to all as they may be to you!
Thirdly, remember that it’s normal to have short, medium and long term goals – we won’t be able to achieve them all within a year or even a single election cycle. But it’s helpful to know what the long term goal is even if it will take some time to achieve it. One example might be energy diversification – we need a step by step plan which takes into account cost, technology and infrastructure development over a period of years.
Then there is the question of priority setting. This needs to be done at individual as well as organisational level. So do keep a “to do” list of your priority objectives and tasks, because keeping track can be a challenge, and few of us have the sort of memory we would need to do all this in our heads! Make sure we inject pace and deadlines into these lists so that we are delivering on time and on target.
In order to create momentum and energy in our teams, let’s also make sure that we acknowledge and celebrate goals that we achieve, even the small ones. Noting and reviewing our achievements is important because this shows not only that we are delivering, but also that our objectives are achievable and realistic as we bring them to fruition. I’m always delighted to hear about the successes the you are delivering 😀
And finally, don’t be afraid to review and flex your objectives and goals throughout the year –changes in resourcing, prioritisation or the context may push them up or down your list, or change your approach entirely. So have open conversations about progress and be prepared to take a new tack if you need to.
I thought I would leave you with one personal tip which I use because I find I am often operating on my phone and away from my desk, relying on quick chats with key people – I put my “to do” goals and actions on a List App (I use “Listmaker”) so that I have them always to hand on my phone. That means I can create lists for things to discuss on different subjects and with different people. And I like being able to use colours to keep it all clear and separated. I've even started to use it to remind me what I plan to do at home and with my family - making sure that I don't forget the "work- life" balance we all need!
Wishing you all much happiness and success in the New Year 2024!
