How Managers Can Handle Shifting Goalposts

3 Strategies for Keeping You and Your Team Motivated and Focused

As a manager, it can be frustrating when the goals or expectations set by your leaders keep changing. It can be demotivating to work towards a target that keeps moving, and it can be challenging to keep your team motivated and focused. This blog post will explore three ways that managers can handle situations where the goalposts keep shifting.

1. Communicate with Your Leaders

When the expectations set by your leaders keep changing, it's essential to communicate with them. Open communication can help you understand why the goals are changing and what you can do to meet them. You can schedule a meeting with your leader to discuss the changes and how you can work together to achieve the new objectives. It's vital to ask questions to clarify the new expectations and ensure that you and your team are on the same page.

Example questions a manager can pose to themselves or others:

• What are the specific changes in expectations or goals?

• What is the reasoning behind these changes?

• How can my team and I meet these new expectations?

2. Reassess Your Strategy

When the goalposts keep shifting, it's essential to reassess your strategy. Your original plan may no longer be relevant, and you may need to pivot to a new approach. Take the time to review your current plan and identify areas where you need to make changes. Involve your team in the process and get their input on what they think needs to be modified. Once you have a new plan in place, communicate it to your team and ensure that everyone understands their role in achieving the new objectives.

Example questions a manager can pose to themselves or others:

• What parts of our current plan are still relevant?

• What parts of our current plan need to be modified?

• What new approach can we take to meet these new expectations?

3. Focus on What You Can Control

When you're working towards a goal that keeps changing, it can be easy to get frustrated and lose focus. However, it's essential to focus on what you can control. You may not be able to control the changing expectations set by your leaders, but you can control how you and your team respond to them. Focus on the things you can do to make progress towards the new objectives. Celebrate small wins along the way, and keep your team motivated by reminding them of the bigger picture.

Example questions a manager can pose to themselves or others:

• What specific actions can we take to meet these new expectations?

• What resources or support can we leverage to achieve our goals?

• How can we stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture in the face of changing expectations?

Conclusion

In conclusion, when the goalposts keep shifting, it can be challenging for managers to stay focused and motivated. However, by communicating with your leaders, reassessing your strategy, and focusing on what you can control, you can overcome these challenges and lead your team towards success. Remember to stay positive, celebrate small wins, and keep your team motivated along the way.