Penny Locey directed Leadership and Organizational Development for Polaroid Corporation as well as their Career Development programs, has consulted to profit and non-profit organizations on performance management and team/management development and training and was cofounder and director of the New England Institute for Career Development, an organization dedicated to professional growth of career management professionals. In addition to her private career consulting practice, she is a senior consultant for Keystone Associates working with executives in career transition.

Professor Linda A. Hill has helped managers create the conditions for effective management in today's flatter and increasingly diverse organizations. She is a Professor and chair of the Leadership Initiative at Harvard Business School. She is also the author of the best-selling Becoming a Manager (Harvard Business School Press), now out in paperback. Linda served as the content expert for Coaching for Results and Managing Direct Reports, two award-winning interactive programs from Harvard Business School Publishing. She also served as a mentor for many Harvard ManageMentor topics.

Mentors' Message: Why Setting Goals Is Important

Setting Goals: The Basics

What Is Setting Goals About?
A big-picture view of what goal setting is and how it works.

SMART Goals
Five criteria for defining goals effectively.

Defining Goals for Your Unit
A look at the steps required to establish unit objectives.

Defining Goals for Individuals
Ideas for establishing goals for your employees and yourself.

Maximizing Goal Success
A closer look at this element of setting goals.

Accomplishing Your Goals
Actions to take while working toward your objectives.

Evaluating Goals You've Set
Tips for taking stock of your goal-setting process.

Tips and Tools

Setting goals is a key part of any manager's job. Through goal setting, you define business outcomes that you and your team will accomplish collectively and individually. Managed effectively, the goal-setting process creates a long-term vision that motivates you and your employees to reach even the most challenging objectives.
Every day on the job, you face common challenges. And you need immediate solutions to those challenges. The Pocket Mentor Series can help. Each book in the series is packed with handy tools, self-tests, and real-life examples to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and hone critical skills. Whether you're at your desk, in a meeting, or on the road, these portable, concise guides enable you to tackle the daily demands of your work with speed, savvy, and effectiveness.