Using performance goals to motivate workers

The best way to motivate workers is through the use of incentive pay schemes, but project managers often don't have authority over compensation. They can use positive, encouraging tactics to motivate their team, or negative, threatening tactics, though both strategies have disadvantages. Goal-setting programs have proved effective in improving worker performance, and this article presents such a goal-setting program. The three essential questions to ask are: 1) how difficult should the goals be to obtain? 2) who should set the goals? and 3) are there ways to increase goal commitment? A ten-step program is offered for successful goal-setting. The program emphasizes taking input from subordinates and groups, making the goals measurable and relatively difficult, and working hard to earn the trust of subordinates.