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If you’re a business owner you probably realize how important it is to have both personal and career goals. If you don’t have goals, you won’t have the motivation that you need to get to where you want to be.

If you have employees, you need to set goals for them as well. As the person who guides them, you can help them set their own goals and show them how impressive goals can be. As the employees reach their goals, you will find that this will also benefit your business.

Have your employees start with a large goal, such as where they would like to be in 10 years. Encourage them to dream big. Perhaps they would like to own their own business or have a top management position. Next, have them break that down into a 5 year goal. What skills would they like to learn between now and then to help them achieve their long term goal?

From there, your employees can break their goal down into a 3 year goal. They can then shorten that down to a 1 year goal and then they can break that down even further, into a 6 month goal.

When your employees share their goals with you, take note of things you may be able to help them with. For instance, if one of your employees wants to learn how to build websites, you may be able to teach them some basic web design. They may be willing to take over your website maintenance. Your employee will receive valuable experience that can help them reach their goal and you will be able to free up some of your time.

Some of your employees will set goals beyond your business. It may be beneficial for you to stay in contact with them as they could become a possible business contact for you someday.

Forming a partnership should be relatively easy as you will know each others work styles. You can still reap the benefits of what they know even if they no longer work for you.

Not every employee has the desire to have their own business. Some will be just as happy working with you as an employer for many years. By having these employees set goals while working with you, you will keep them energized and motivated.

Your business will flourish as your employees learn new skills and take on more responsibility. They will come together as a group and help you with your business which might not happen if you don’t encourage them to set goals for themselves.