Now that the summer holidays have ended, and seem like a distant memory, it’s time to refocus and get ready for the 2023 work year ahead.This might involve setting new goals, catching up on tasks that were neglected during the break, and getting back into a regular routine. It’s also a good opportunity to reflect on the past year and identify areas for improvement or growth in the coming year.

Before your business rushes head on into 2023, you may wish to start the year by communicating clear goals to your staff to ensure they are focused, motivated, and productive.

• Involve your staff in the goal-setting process. This will help ensure that the goals are realistic and achievable, and that your staff are invested in achieving them.
• Be specific. Vague goals such as "improve customer satisfaction" are not as effective as specific goals such as "increase customer satisfaction scores by 10% within the next quarter."
• Set measurable goals. This will allow you to track progress and determine whether the goals have been achieved.
• Set deadlines for achieving the goals. This will help ensure that your staff are focused on achieving the goals within a specific timeframe.
• Communicate the goals clearly to your staff. Make sure that everyone understands the goals and their roles in achieving them.
• Provide support and resources to help your staff achieve the goals. This might include training, additional resources, or additional support from management.
• Monitor progress and provide feedback. Regularly check in with your staff to see how they are progressing towards the goals and provide feedback and support as needed.
• Celebrate successes. When your staff achieve their goals, take the time to celebrate and recognise their hard work and efforts. This will help to motivate and encourage them to continue striving for success.

Finally, starting the year with clear goals for employees allows managers to effectively performance manage staff that fail to work to the standards expected of their role.If you start with these goals now, you will thank yourself later as 2023 quickly descends towards 2024.

If you need any assistance setting goals for your staff, drafting clear job descriptions, or performance managing employees, feel free to contact the MTA Workplace Relations Team on 8291 2000 or wr@mtasant.com.au