Tips for Setting Goals

As the year comes to a close, many of us are planning new goals.  Here are some tips to help set appropriate goals, keep on track, and drive success.

Prioritize 

There are likely a million different goals you want to accomplish from growing sales, reducing costs or losing 10 pounds. You can’t do it all. Too many goals are overwhelming. Prioritizing will allow you to focus to be more successful.

Action Plan
Crafting an action plan of how you are going to accomplish the goal will force you to think of the behaviors, tactics, and resources needed. If the goal is to lose weight, going to the gym three days of week and cutting out dessert would be part of your action plan. If your goal is growing sales, your action plan might include increasing your marketing budget or hiring a new sales rep.  List detailed steps and create a timeline for your action steps.

Involve Others
Goals are rarely accomplished in a vacuum. Others are directly or indirectly influencing your success.  Business goals need group activities and team buy-in to be accomplished.  Personal goals can be encouraged by moral support such as a work out buddy or family plans to eat better. Support systems are vital to keeping focus.

Track
What is measured gets done.  If you measure results weekly, you will know where you are at to your goal.  These results will motivate you to keep on track or redirect your activities for better results.

Evaluate
If you aren't where you want to be, you might need to change tactics.  Increase the days at the gym or cut more calories for weight lost goals.  If your sales aren't meeting expectations, research a different marketing campaign or new sales person.  By examining what is working and what isn’t, you can adjust to guide towards success.

Celebrate

When you reach milestones, celebrate your success.  These can be small things such as a company pizza party or a personal gift you had your eye on.  These celebrations help you stay motivated to push through towards your goal.

Being focus, realistic, and tracking your results will lead to goal accomplishment.  How do you set goals and keep on track?  Share your tips below.  

Setting Goals and Sticking to Them

It's January and many of us are diving into our resolutions with a passionate cry that this year I will stick with my goals! Wait -- didn’t we say that last year….and the year before that? Sticking to new goals is a challenge. Here are some ways to set appropriate goals and successfully accomplish them.

 

Define the Goals
- Create a clear definition of what your goal is.

- Be clear on the “why” of the goal which is your motivation.

- If you have more than one goal, group them into categories
- Tackling too many goals is a recipe for failure. Stick to a few key goals.

 

The Road Map

- A critical step is defining the how-to with monthly, daily, weekly steps.

- Put each step on a calendar to keep it top of mind and direct a clear path.

 

Evaluation – Practice not Perfection

- Put check-ins on the calendar to review progress

- Reviewing will drive more meaning to the goal and redirect efforts if needed.

- Each quarter ask questions such as - is the goal still relevant, how would you grade your progress, can you do other things to improve?

Celebrate the Wins

- Encouragement along the way keeps you engaged to accomplish your goals.

- Changing isn’t all or nothing. Celebrate victories with small rewards.

  

Example Goals

• Business Goal:
  Define - grow sales by 5%
  Motivation - a more profitable business
  Map - create monthly retail sales promotion with help of sales team
  Evaluation - monthly review of sales results,what worked what didn't
  Celebration - quarterly catered lunch, bonus at year end if achieve goal
• Health Goal:
  Define - Reach my goal weight of 150 lbs
  Motivation - a healthier me to be active and live longer
  Map - sign up and calendar an exercise class and attend 3 days a week
  Evaluation - monthly weigh in and review of efforts
  Celebration - quarterly get new shoes, year end a full spa day

Remember that life is about the journey. You will learn, you will fall, and you will grow– with focused intention, a plan, and self awareness you can stick with those goals and make them happen!