Setting goals is the way most of us get things done – in life and in business. We set the goal to get a new job or move to a new place. We set the goal to learn how to speak a new language or make money by investing in real estate.

And when it comes to delivering the very best products and services to our customers, we set goals to give our people direction and a target to shoot for.

The thing is, many leaders spend far too much time creating long lists of goals and too little time getting to the essence of what really needs to get done to move the organization forward. Truth be told, when it comes to setting goals, less is more.

So, if you're not sure if you're setting the right goals – or the right number of goals – for your people, here are some tips to get you the answers you seek.

While many people think that they can multitask their way to success, research shows that having fewer goals leads to higher-quality outcomes. When you overwhelm your employees with too many simultaneous goals, you can cause them to lose focus on what is most important.

By avoiding goal overload, you'll enable your team to direct their energy in the most effective way – ultimately achieving better results.

2. Keep an eye on your mission and vision

When you set goals with your people, make sure that they are aligned with your organization's mission and vision. While dazzling results are ... dazzling, they should always be consistent with your mission and vision.

3. Focus only on goals that are relevant to the organization

Time is precious, so make a point of prioritizing goals that have the greatest effect on the long-term success of your business. However you measure success – whether it might be increased market share, or making a positive impact on the community, or pushing technology forward – choose goals that will get you there.

4. Periodically update your goals

Nothing stays the same – especially in today's fast-changing business environment. Schedule quarterly or midyear reviews to evaluate the continued relevance and importance of your company goals, and then don't hesitate to revise them as necessary.

The key is to ensure that they remain aligned with the organization's present and future needs and drive your future success.

Avoid the goal overload trap, where employees have so many goals that they can't get any of them done. Instead of overwhelming yourself and your team, set just a few goals that promise to have the maximum impact, and focus on those.

As Tony Robbins once said, "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." And isn't that what it's all about?

Inc