Should Managers Share Their KRAs and Goals with Their Team? Exploring the Pros and Cons

Hello all,

I want to know whether KRA or goals of a manager should be shared with subordinates. Is there any harm or negative impact of that? How will it be helpful to the goals of the team/organization? Is there any mandate for not sharing?

Kindly help me out with this.

The Importance of Sharing Organizational Goals

Please note that as a team, all employees need to work towards the organization's goals. Therefore, the goals of the organization should be distributed, and department goals should be set. The department consists of the Head of Department (HOD) to the lowest-level person in the hierarchy. Hence, every employee in the organization needs to understand the organizational, departmental, and individual goals. Except for one or a maximum of two specific assignments that may be confidential, all Key Result Areas (KRAs) and goals should be open to everyone.

In this context, I suggest not maintaining any secrecy or confidentiality regarding KRAs and goals. Failing to do so may result in negative consequences for the organization, unit, department, and individuals. There is a possibility that an employee could use lack of awareness of tasks as an excuse to avoid responsibilities.

Regards,
Kameswararao

Considering All Aspects

The answer should depend on all aspects, not just those you asked about. There are assumptions you made that we don’t know. The answer will probably vary from department to department, and with the hierarchy of the person and the nature of their job.

Managerial KRAs and Subordinate Desires

Further, some managers may have a KRA that is not in line with the desires of their subordinates. For example, a manager may have a KRA that requires them to discipline and reduce certain unacceptable incidents, or a KRA may be to reduce headcount, outsource certain parts of work, etc.

So, you need to decide whether or not it is acceptable in your scenario, rather than in a generic scenario.

Hi Mr.Banerjee,
An executive's KRA were shared with Manager.
I suggested the Director Lets share the KRA of Manager with Executive too. As this will help to achieve company's desired goals.
To which he blasted on me stating, ‘'NEVER TO SHARE KRA OF MANAGER WITH EXECUTIVE. As the executives may cross question to Manager.''
I do not agree with him. And wanted to check if I Said something wrong.

KRA of a Manager can be revealed to the extent that subordinates know how their KRAs and the Manager's KRAs are linked to organizational goals. There may be certain KRAs allotted to the Manager that need to be kept under wraps, and one should be judicious in maintaining confidentiality while working to achieve the specific KRA concerned.

Indeed, Key Result Areas (KRAs) should cascade from the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) of the organization and, in turn, to each department/HOD so that all pull together in the same direction. Many organizations publicly display their BSCs. Unless the intended results are communicated to the lowest level, there will not be synergy in efforts.