In the broadest sense, your manager makes a good deal of sense. It is important for employees to have objectives, and there is clear evidence that objectives can have a positive impact on motivation, performance, and productivity.
However, there is more to an objective than merely stating that you desire to be more productive. And further, committing to working extra hard is not going to make it a reality.
The real issue is based on the difference between a goal and an objective. In today's parlance, a goal is a general statement regarding a desired outcome, while an objective is a clear, specific, challenging, and measurable outcome that you seek, and it is supported by an equally specific action plan to help you get there. The action plan includes the strategies you plan to use, resources you may need, performance measures, and benchmark dates.
Your new manager is halfway there. His goal is to introduce an objectives program into the company, and now he needs to convert this goal into an objective.
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