Performance goals to accomplish tasks

Performance goals focus on accomplishing a task, for example, meeting the sales quota by the third quarter. The purpose of the performance goal is to foster the motivational mechanisms of effort, choice, and persistence leading to attaining the goal and if the people have the skills necessary to accomplish the task. A person’s behavior with a performance goal is to focus on ways to implement knowledge and skills toward quickly achieving the goal.

Suppose a person lacks the necessary skills or knowledge. In that case, they will not be able to perform at a goal attainment level, regardless of motivation. Performance goals are appropriate when the strategy is clear. The organization has established and proven processes. The people have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform.