Employee Goal Setting Worksheets & Templates for Productive Teams

The most productive people and organizations set goals. Why? Because goals detail and clarify the journey toward productivity and optimum employee performance.

Think of a goal like a road map: you may know your end destination ($50 million in revenue, for example), but without the directions on how to get there, a destination is all but worthless.

Of course, figuring out each and every part of employee goals is no easy feat. You have to think intentionally about your actions, your timeline, and keep in mind the others involved. With a lot on your plate already, setting detailed, specific goals might be the last thing on your to-do list.

But have no fear—Quantum Workplace is here to help! Below, we've described the two most common goal setting philosophies and provided goal setting worksheets to get you started.

SMART Goal Setting Worksheet

The SMART goal acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals are widely understood and have been around for decades. They’re beneficial if you need a simple, easy-to-remember framework for your team members. Jump into this SMART goal setting worksheet to help you plan out your next goal.

Pros of SMART Goals:

• Narrows focus and explicitly defines the goal
• Progress is easily tracked, motivating employees
• Clearly aligns goals to the rest of the organization
• Built-in deadline can boost performance

Cons of SMART Goals:

• Employees can get stumped trying to check all the criteria boxes of a SMART goal
• “Attainable” goals can result in fear of failure
• Focuses heavily on goal setting, rather than pursuing

OKR Goal Setting Worksheet

OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results. This type of goal helps you determine an overarching goal and specify the key metrics and actions that will make it happen. OKRs are meant to shorten the goal cycle and instill a more aspirational mindset in employees. This type of goal is beneficial if you’re looking to challenge and develop your employees. Give a go with this OKR goal setting worksheet.

Pros of OKRs:

• Stretches employees and  grows companies
• Higher frequency in setting and adjusting OKRs encourages agility
• Stresses transparency, increasing organizational alignment
• Balances aspiration with execution by linking the “why" and “how” together

Cons of OKRs:

• Slower adoption process
• Proper alignment necessitates a system with increased goal setting and tracking ability
• Highly aspirational goals may discourage employees

Not sure whether SMART goals or OKRs are a better fit for your team? Do your research. Whether you’re on a team of 5 or a squad of 20, goal setting is beneficial to any team who wants to stay motivated, aligned, and productive. And don't forget: there's goal setting software out there that can make all of this even easier. We hope these goal setting worksheets help you on your journey to your final destination. Happy goal setting!