Effective goal-setting involves several critical steps: 1. Define Specific Objectives: Goals should be clear and specific. Instead of saying "increase sales," a more specific goal would be "increase sales by 20% in the next quarter." 2. Make Goals Measurable: Use quantifiable metrics to track progress. This could be revenue figures, market share percentages, or customer satisfaction scores. 3. Ensure Goals Are Achievable: While it's important to be ambitious, goals should also be realistic. Setting unattainable goals can demoralize the team. 4. Relevance: Goals should align with the company's overall vision and mission. Irrelevant goals can divert resources and attention from more critical priorities. 5. Time-Bound: Assign a timeline for achieving the goals. Deadlines create a sense of urgency and help in tracking progress.