A Guide to Setting Productivity Objectives

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A Guide to Setting Productivity Objectives

Setting effective productivity objectives with a team is the starting point for success.  It is very important that the productivity objectives set are formulated with the people who are going to do the work.  Very often, the objectives set and then prescribed to the people doing the work with predictable results.

As a result of being left out of the productivity objective setting process, the staff may work hard to ensure that it will not be achieved.  Resistance is reduced by asking their opinions and asking them to contribute to the objectives.  Think about it.  It is very difficult to resist an objective to which you have contributed.

Effective productivity objectives have a number of positive effects.  First of all, they give everybody a common purpose.  Secondly, they can draw different groups together to achieve something worthwhile.  Thirdly, milestones on the way to the achievement of an objective are worthy of celebration.  Fourthly, having objectives provides a great opportunity to give positive feedback and reinforcement on progress.

Well-designed and coherent objectives are an important contribution to the feeling of satisfaction that work can produce.  Poorly designed objectives can pilot your productivity efforts in the wrong direction.

  • Typically, people talk about S.M.A.R.T. objectives. This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time limited.
  • The best way to write objectives are not necessarily in that order. It could be that a better way is M.A.R.S.T.
  • With productivity objectives, Measurable is the most important factor. This provides you and everybody else evidence that you have achieved your objective. In setting the Measurable factor make sure how your progress is going to be recorded and get agreement on that.
  • Achievable is another important factor. It also has some bearing on Measurable. There is little point having an objective if you know that you can't achieve it. The test for your objective being achievable is to consider these:-you know that it can be measured, other people have done it, it is theoretically possible (it can be done), the necessary resources are available, you have worked out the odds.
  • It may be achievable but not be realistic. Often objectives are not reached because they are not realistic. The test for your objective being realistic is to ask these questions:-Who's going to do it? Do they have access to the necessary skills? Who is going to pay for it? Who is going to be responsible for it? Is it top priority?
  • Specific refers to the detail of the objective. You know you if your objective is specific enough if:-Everybody involved knows that they are included. Everybody involved can understand the objective. Everybody involved can contribute.
  • Time limited means that there are deadlines. You must include a timeframe for the objective otherwise your objective can never ever be measured. However, the deadlines must be realistic or the objective is not achievable. In other words Time limited must be Measurable, Realistic and Specific because without these, your objective would not be a priority.

Achieving productivity objectives is one of the great satisfactions in business.  You will know you've done a successful job and so will everybody else.


Peter Mitchell has been an advisor to businesses of all sizes and types for the last 35 years.  He has used all his experience to write a step-by-step guide for business owners and mangers which is complimentary.  If you download this FREE guide, you are eligible to buy his latest book "The Key to Productivity" at a special low price for a limited time.

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