Self Improvement...

Increasingly, business must look to non-traditional and creative ways in which to motivate employees and stimulate productivity and the delivery of high quality products and services. Motivating intangibles such as "job satisfaction" and "creative challenge" may play a more significant role now in employees' willingness to perform with excellence. Companies must, therefore, tap these resources and build on employees' sense of personal accomplishment in an effort to restore vigor and prosperity.

A basis for instilling an entrepreneurial approach -- for individual ownership of business success -- is personal life-goals planning. This is, in addition, the foundation of a model which recognizes both that the long-term success of the company requires the sustained support of the employees and that the satisfaction of employees' long-term goals is a prerequisite to the company's success.

Such a model's advantage is that it allows companies to introduce low cost, highly effective human resource programs that promote morale, build loyalty, and generate the cooperation needed to revitalize business.

Employees who set personal goals for themselves in a systematic way are more productive, focused, and loyal at work because most recognize a clearer connection between their own goals and objectives and those of the company for which they work. These individuals are motivated to excel because they understand how they fit into the "Big Picture," know what they can contribute to making that picture a "success," and feel that they are in control of their own destiny.

Many more employees would be motivated to excel, actively support company goals, and have greater loyalty if they planned their personal goals. The personal life-goals planning objective should be to provide employees with a tool that will foster their understanding of systematic achievement and, thereby, increase their personal contribution to the success of their employer.

A successful personal life-goal planning program should enable the employee to:

Develop a goal orientation: The most important outcome of such a program is to provide a framework for understanding achievement processes and the dynamics of goal setting. This establishes the expectation that success is not only possible but probable when supported by a method of planning which is appropriate to personal or business circumstances.

Clarify values: Values help one to establish a sense of purpose and direction and act as a benchmark for measuring the quality of life. The value clarification process assists the individual to understand what motivates him or her to choose one course of action over another. Values have a direct effect on the decisions that every manager and employee makes during the routine conduct of business. These decisions reflect a highly personal agenda based on those values which are perceived to satisfy basic personal needs.

Identify needs and wants: Needs and wants include anything which an individual perceives to be necessary or desired for personal well-being. Satisfying these desires is an individual's highest personal priority and has, therefore, a daily impact on his or her willingness to demonstrate excellence for an employer.

Set achievable goals: Achievable goals are those one expects to succeed and that satisfy an individual's needs and wants. In addition to career goals, an employee's goals should include objectives that relate to health, finances, relationships, and personal growth.

Develop strategies and tactics for accomplishment: A workable strategy is essential for translating plans into tactics or activities that promote achievement. It is essential that each individual understand what it is that he or she can do on a daily basis that will step him or her closer to reaching a goal or business objective.

When employees are clear about their personal values, can articulate their needs and set reasonable goals, they gain a sense of direction, stability, and excellence that would not otherwise be available to them. This new sense of purpose can be of great benefit to any company which seeks increased vitality. More productive energy can be harnessed from the employee. There is greater focus on accomplishing what needs to be done than on side issues that can undermine morale and impair loyalty.