We’ve heard about the importance of setting goals all our lives. For some, the word conjures ugly thoughts of New Year’s resolutions abandoned in just days. For others, it’s become a positive force and a way of life. Regardless of where you fall, learning to establish goals and implement them with team support is critical when it comes to the success of your business. 

Business makeover expert Ellen Rohr believes that when you realize where you stand and where you want to wind up that the universe tends to conspire to help make it happen. But if you choose to live your life and run your business on default then that’s another story. 

“If you don’t set goals and you put your boat in the river of this industry the inertia will take you down the road to poverty,” Rohr says. 

Start with your wants

“As a business owner, setting goals is just a way to make things happen,” she says. Not everybody is going to be happy with your goals, though, so it’s best to start with what you want. 

One secret to success during this process, Rohr says, is moving ideas from mind to paper. Writing your goals down is a way to lay claim to your wants. It’s basically a matter of forming “have” statements: I want to have a $5 million company, I want to have three locations, or I want to have an opportunity for the good people at my company to move up the ladder and open up another location.

“Then your job as a leader is to present a compelling case,” she says. If what you want is something that can also serve your employees, then together you may be able to accomplish something great. 

Create a high-quality game

“I’m a big fan of playing a game,” Rohr says. “If you don’t lay out a good game your team will play — you just might not like it.” Rather than fostering an environment where employees find ways to do the bare minimum, find ways to encourage hard work and dedication by showing your staff what’s in it for them. 

If you make it clear what it takes to move up the organizational chart and the opportunities that are available for raises, bonuses and promotions, then they can begin to see the career path in front of them. 

Couple this with any additional perks or benefits your company offers and you’ve highlighted reasons why your game, despite any of the challenges or downsides, is worth playing. 

Handled effectively, you can build a more enjoyable, rewarding and productive workplace for everyone involved. Now that’s a goal that makes sense to strive for.