When carried out effectively, setting goals for your teams can be the guiding light they need when the going gets tough. They provide a clear direction and plan-of-action to follow, and offer opportunities to build trust and collaboration with eachother, and just as importantly, with you!

Today we're going to look at  why team goals matter and the ways to whip up team goals that'll develop your teams into superstar units.

What exactly are ‘team goals’?

Team goals are objectives and milestones that a group of individuals work towards together to hit. They are generally used to align the effort of a team with the larger objectives of the company and are a great way to amplify team productivity.

Team goals function like a race finishing-line that all members strive to reach together. So how do they differ from those personal goals we all have? Well comparing them would be like comparing a solo trek to a group trek through a dense forest. On a solo outing you only need to consider number one, bringing supplies and equipment to look after yourself. A group trek opens the door to more factors that must be considered. The heaviest bag to carry wouldn’t be given to the smallest hiker in the group, would it?

There's this beautiful concept that perfectly sums up the spirit of setting team goals, and that is a “symbiotic relationship”. Symbiosis is a term usually used to describe, in the natural world, a win/win exchange, where both parties benefit from an event. Understanding and applying this basic concept to team goal setting creates an atmosphere where everyone's growth contributes to the team's success, and in turn, the success of the company.

By helping your teams to understand this concept and communicating its value to them while team goals are being set, the foundation of mutual benefit is created. Your teams better understand the value of aligned goals for the individual, group and company. 

The best methods you can use to set team goals

Now that we better understand the meaning and significance of team goals, let’s break down our list of methods you can use when next setting out those golden targets for your teams to hit.

SWOT analysis 

Here’s a great method to help establish some new, powerful team goals. A SWOT analysis, standing for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is a fantastic goal-setting activity that analyzes with purpose, bringing clarity and focus to goals. Here’s a way to organize one:

1. Define the objectives: Take moment of clarity and explain why you’re doing this with your teams. Let them know the aim for the end is to set new team goals, using the information from the analysis. 
2. Draw up your SWOT matrix: Draw a big grid with four sections labeled Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. 
3. Brainstorm and fill in the quadrant: Your S and W squares are internal, so look inwards at company strengths and weaknesses. O and T are external factors, so analyse your market to see where opportunities lie. 
4. Develop team-goal action plans: Based on this list, create your team goals. For instance, if a weakness is a skill gap, your team goal could be to get through some targeted training.

By bringing SWOT analysis into your goal-setting process, your teams naturally get onto the same page to reach their objectives. This method not only clears up what needs to be done but also helps teams to prepare for challenges in the surrounding market.

Hackathons and innovation challenges

Hackathons and innovation challenges are a fantastic way to set team goals. These events offer a relaxed setting where staff can socialize and bond in a competitive but fun way.  You can inspire creativity while setting team goals by carrying out a hackathon or innovation activity. Here's how to make it happen. 

1. Define the mission: Start off by defining the problem your teams should tackle. What's the big dream at the end of the rainbow? Having a clear target gives everyone a common purpose to aim for.
2. Choose location of challenge: The best challenges are carried out off-site, so make your choice of location specified to the challenge. If you’re running a business-game simulation, choose a place with an optimized I.T. setup.
3. Carry it out with stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders to provide feedback and support throughout the event. Their insights can be valuable for refining ideas.
4. Celebrate your winners!: Recognize the hard work of all participants. Offer rewards for the winning teams and celebrate the innovative solutions they come up with. Prizes, public recognition, or opportunities to implement the winning ideas are great options.

Use hackathons and innovation challenges to get your teams working together as powerful units, setting goals and objectives to tackle unique challenges.

Agile goal setting

Keep your goals light on their feet and adaptable to change by using ‘agile’ methods. This is a practical way for teams to stay nimble and on track. Borrowing from the principles of agile project management, ‘agile’ keeps teams focused while allowing them to pivot when needed.

1. Lay out your goals: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just start by outlining your objectives and break them down into actionable tasks or milestones. 
2. Prioritize tasks: From your list, create a backlog of tasks, prioritizing them based on importance and urgency.
3. Plan your agile sprints: Here’s the key moment of play. Divide your work into short, focused sprints, typically lasting a few weeks each. This helps maintain momentum and accountability.
4. Stay Connected: Organize daily stand-up meetings to keep everyone on the same page and informed about obstacles and next steps.

With clear objectives, open communication, and a knack for adapting, your team is unstoppable. Here's to embracing agility and reaching new heights together, one sprint at a time!

Backward goal setting

When developing plans for team-goal setting, there's a strategy known as backwards goal setting or reverse engineering goals. Instead of the usual approach where you start from where you are and plan forward, this method runs in reverse.

1. Define the end goal: With this method, you have to begin at the finish line and run the other way. Picture what that end goal looks like. The goal has to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound).
2. Break It Down: Once you've got your big goal in mind, break it down into smaller milestones. These mini-goals are stepping stones over the river to the success waiting on the other side.
3. Create Key Actions: Here you have to knuckle-down and figure out what needs to happen to reach each milestone. Be clear about who's responsible for what.

With backwards goal setting, the end is used to justify the means, and teams can navigate their way to success with confidence, staying united every step of the way.

BHAGs (big hairy audacious goals)

These goals are supposed to be bold and often seem slightly out of reach. That's exactly what makes them catalysts for team motivation and achievement. Think in terms of the first moon landing, or the invention of the internet. What must they have been thinking while setting those goals?

1. Define Your BHAG: Get your foot in the door by thinking without fear. Find your BHAG. It should be ambitious yet achievable, compelling enough to excite your team but not so far-fetched that it feels unreachable.
2. Spread the Word: Once you've got your BHAG, you have to shout it from the rooftops. Everyone in each team needs to know what they’re aiming for and why it matters. The more excitement you can drum up, the more momentum you'll build.
3. Break it Down: A big goal can feel overwhelming, so break it down into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Set milestones along the way to keep your team on track and motivated. And don't forget to celebrate each little win. Your teams are one step closer to their BHAG!

With BHAGs leading the way, your teams can gain a greater sense of achievement when they conquer a mammoth task. So go ahead, dream big, aim high, and watch as your teams reach new heights together!

Gamification

Gamification isn’t just for video games anymore. Many of the Fortune 500 companies are taking gamification very seriously now, so it’s a great time for you to use it in your team goal-setting sessions. 

1. Identify Goals: Start by defining clear team objectives that you want to achieve through gamification. That might be hitting sales targets or meeting project deadlines. Get these goals set up with your teams.
2. Choose game elements: Pick game elements that resonate with your team, like points for progress, badges for brilliance, or leaderboards that add a touch of friendly rivalry.
3. Design Challenges: Break those big goals into bite-sized missions. Make them fun and make them doable. There are tons of websites like trackabi and habitica that have great game and work systems already set up.
4. Iterate and Improve: Stay nimble, stay flexible. Tweak your game plan based on feedback and keep everyone engaged. Because when work feels like play, everyone's a winner!

Turn those workdays into something everyone looks forward to, where every challenge is a chance to level up and every win brings the chance of a new high score.

Vision boarding

A great tool used to improve collaboration and  develop team empowerment is vision boarding. The aim of the activity is to create a collage of pictures, texts and art that represents and affirms the goals of the team. It’s a strong visualisation technique that cements an image in the mind of the viewer. So here’s how to set one up.

1. Supply stock: Vision boards rely on all things crafty. The aim is to get out of the mindframe of text and into the mode of an artist. You’re going to need magazines, markers, and poster boards. The more colorful and eclectic, the better!
2. Dream Big: Before your teams dive in, get them to define what they want to achieve. From landing a big new sales client to new office sports teams, let them lay it all out on the table.
3. Let Creativity Flow: Encourage your teams to let their imaginations run wild. They can cut out whatever speaks to them, from inspiring quotes to hilarious memes. Piece it all together on your vision board.
4. Show and Tell: Once the boards are ready, teams take turns sharing their creations. It's a chance to see where their visions overlap, spark new ideas, and cheer each other on with new team goals.

The ingredients for setting team goals just got a whole lot more colorful and fun! Whether it’s to focus on work performance or to help visualise why alignment matters, vision boarding offers a playful yet powerful way to bring your team together around a shared vision.

Set team goals at your next retreat with Surf Office!

Here at Surf Office, we know that getting your teams aligned with goals can be a difficult business. One of the best ways teams can reach their peak is with a team-building retreat. So why not try one of these fabulous retreats with us?

Imagine the usual confines of your office settings melting away on a sandy beach or taking the time to appreciate nature on a countryside retreat. A quick change of environment can be as revitalizing as a complete office overhaul. Your team will have one another’s backs and be working in complete harmony, motivated to tackle any challenge together. 

Like this idea but not sure how to put it all together? No problem, this is where Surf Office comes in.

We've had the pleasure of organizing over 700+ retreat experiences, including remote teams, for many different companies. Here’s how what we offer:

• Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
• Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
• Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
• Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
• Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
• Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅

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Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.

Work retreats are where we help teams transform from a collection of strong workers, to a group that is even stronger than the sum of its parts. Set team goals or celebrate team achievements with us, in style!