Objective vs Goal - What are the differences between goals and objectives?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- What is a goal?
- What is an objective?
- Objective vs Goal - What are the differences between goals and objectives?
- How do goals and objectives work together?
Introduction
What’s the difference between a goal and an objective? If you assumed they were the same, then you are not alone. The difference between a goal and an objective is very subtle. We often mix one with the other. So, in this article, we dive beyond just “Objective vs Goal” to describe the differences between goals and objectives. We also cover how to set goals and objectives and also to utilize them to your advantage. So, let’s get started.
What is a goal?
A goal is a desired outcome that you want to achieve. We all have different goals - whether they are business goals or personal goals. It varies from one person to another. To make it easier to understand, let’s take a look at Elon Musk’s goal. Elon Musk’s goal is to colonize Mars.
As you can see, goals are vague and long-term statements about a project or plan. Yet they give people and businesses a sense of direction to move forward.
From a business standpoint, goals align with the vision and the purpose of a company. Therefore, it is crucial for a company to achieve its business goals for long-term success.
Examples of Goals:
• Increase international customer base
• Decrease the churn rate
• Increase website traffic
What is an objective?
Objectives are the specific actions and measurable steps that you need to take in order to attain your goal. This gives you a good idea of what needs to be done to meet the end goal. For example, Elon Musk's goal is to colonize Mars, so the objective is to build an efficient rocket using high-quality materials within 3 years.
Objectives are short-term and are specific statements about a project or plan. Therefore, by specifying your objectives, you will be able to work towards achieving your final goals.
Examples of Objectives:
• Acquire 48% more customers from the US and Canada, in the next 6 months
• Arrange 1 webinar every week to engage new users
• Publish 8 blogs every month related to tech and SaaS
Source: Objective vs Goal example
Objective vs Goal - What are the differences between goals and objectives?
Following are some differences between goals and objectives:
1. Scope
Goals: As goals are general statements, they can be very broad
Objectives: Objectives tend to be more specific
2. Time frame
Goals: A goal usually has a long time frame. This can be from a few months to several years.
Objectives: Objectives have a short or medium time frame. This can be from a few days to several weeks.
3. Measure
Goals: Goals may not always be measurable or tangible.
Objectives: Objectives should be measurable and tangible.
How do goals and objectives work together?
Now that you have learned the differences between goals and objectives, it may seem they are two different concepts. In reality, they work in tandem to provide the desired outcome. Combining these two elements means setting a vision as well as describing a path to reach that vision.
According to research, 92% of people do not achieve their final goals. Yes, that is a huge number, isn’t it? So what do the other 8% do correctly that the others don’t? Simple! These individuals set specific goals and are committed to achieving those goals. Here are three steps to seeing your goals come to fruition.
Step 1: Set Goals
Your business goals should align with your company’s mission statement. This ensures that your goals are relevant and relatable to your customers and employees. And once you achieve this, your teams should be motivated to work together and achieve goals together!
Step 2: Create SMART objectives
Once the goals have been set, you need to identify the objectives. It’s very important to remember that creating goals without clear objectives leads to goals that never get accomplished. This is why you need to provide a clear and objective framework for setting and managing goals.
One such framework to define and measure objectives is by using the SMART method. SMART is an acronym for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time Bound. Now let’s see in detail what each of them mean.
1. Specific — Clearly define the measurable metrics that must be tracked. People often make the mistake of setting vague goals that are not concrete. By being specific, you can create action plans for achieving that goal.
2. Measurable — Make sure that you can track your objective. This is very crucial for measuring your progress over time. Having a measurable goal will allow you to stay on track and give you the motivation you need to keep going.
3. Attainable — Set goals that are challenging but attainable. Don’t try to shoot for the stars when you can’t reach the sky. You stay motivated when you set attainable goals.
4. Realistic— Set realistic goals that align with your vision. Realistic goals can be extremely challenging, but it's entirely possible that you will succeed.
5. Time-bound — Set a concrete deadline for your goals. By having a timeline, you can make sure that you are on the right track towards achieving your goals.
Step 3: Create strategies and tactics
After you’ve laid out the objectives, you need to create a target strategy to meet your objectives and achieve the goals. So, what is a target strategy? A target strategy is a series of steps or tasks that need to be done in order to accomplish the objective or target.
Finally, let's take a look at some tools you can use to help you track your progress and achieve your goals.