The EHS Goal Setting Guide

EHS strategic planning starts here

If you work in the EHS field, you have probably faced the challenge of creating goals that match your company’s main objectives. It’s not easy, but the real issue arises when EHS operates in isolation. If your EHS goals do not reflect what the business’ aims, you risk being seen as a cost center instead of a valuable asset.

If that happens, the value your role brings can be overlooked. It can be harder to create real change in your organization if other departments do not consider your input when making decisions. The bottom line is if your EHS initiatives do not align with the company’s mission, your contributions go unnoticed.

Two strong models to align your EHS goals

The good news is that aligning EHS strategy planning with corporate objectives doesn’t have to be hard. By using a couple of proven models—SMART goal-setting and OGSM strategic planning—you can effectively link your EHS initiatives to what the business needs to achieve.

1. SMART goals:

This model ensures your goals are clear and actionable. The key is to create goals that are:

• Specific – Clearly define what you want to accomplish.
• Measurable – Identify metrics to track progress.
• Attainable – Make your goal realistic.
• Relevant – Ensure it aligns with your EHS strategy.
• Time-based – Set a deadline for completion.

Adding ownership to this process guarantees accountability, a crucial factor in goal-setting. Without clear ownership, even the best goals can fall apart.

2. OGSM (Objective, Goal, Strategy, Measures):

This model offers a strategic planning approach that ties your goals directly to the company’s larger objectives. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Objective: What needs to be accomplished.
• Goal: A quantifiable measure of the objective.
• Strategies: The action steps needed to achieve the goal.
• Measures: Milestones or benchmarks that track progress.

By aligning your EHS goals with the business’s overarching objectives, you not only contribute to corporate success but also elevate the importance of EHS within the organization.

Once you’ve established your company’s strategic objectives, map your EHS goals to those objectives. Start with simple connections and build from there. If you cannot find any connections, it might be time to reevaluate what value EHS is bringing to the table. This process can also highlight how critical EHS is to achieving the company’s targets, making your work not just valuable, but essential.

Find your path forward

• Get clear on your company’s strategic goals.
• Set your EHS goals using the SMART model.
• Use the OGSM framework to plan the actions needed to achieve those goals.
• Assign ownership and track progress.
• Communicate your successes and progress back to leadership.

By following these steps, you can ensure that EHS is seen as a vital part of the company’s strategic success, not just an afterthought.

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