06/ 09/ 2008
by Kelle Campbell
Setting goals is essential for providing your business with direction, but following through on those goals effectively can be another story. Fortunately, there are tactics you can use to make sure you follow through on your objectives.
Set an attainable number
If you set yourself too many goals for a set period, such as a year, you will become overwhelmed and burned out. If you have several things to achieve, make a list of them all so you can select a feasible number of projects.
"Some goals are what we think we ought to be doing or other people's expectations for us," says Corporate Coach Barbara Kay of Advantage Coaching & Training. As a result, you will not be truly motivated, and even if you do realize the goal, it will not hold any real value for you. Therefore, Kay advises you to eliminate any unnecessary "shoulds" from your list.
Also, if you have multiple goals that fall into different categories such as career, financial, education and so on, James Manktelow, founder of the career skills resource site MindTools.com, suggests that you choose a goal from each category. If that still leaves you with you with 10 or more stated goals for the year, prioritize the goals in terms of importance to you until you have about four or five.
Establish deadlines
"One of the most powerful things I provide for my clients is timed accountability," Kay says. When you simply have "someday" as the timeline for your goal, you are more likely to keep putting off what needs to be done. A deadline adds a sense of urgency and motivation because now you will be holding yourself accountable for accomplishing your goals by a set date.
Make goals specific and measurable
Having a specific idea of what you want to achieve will provide more motivation and a way of gauging progress than a vague "I'll do my best" mindset. If you want to increase your revenue, set a figure or percentage. If you want to improve your networking skills, commit yourself to speaking to a specific number of people at an event. This way, you have a way to measure how well you are progressing toward your goal. The number or percentage that you selected does not have to be set in stone. If it turns out to be unrealistic or too easy, you can adjust accordingly.
Break big projects into smaller tasks
In addition to the number, the scope of your goals can overwhelm you and lead to procrastination. Break them down into smaller, more manageable sub-goals. For example, if you want to achieve a certain goal by the end of the year, determine what monthly "milestones" would indicate that you're making appropriate progress and then schedule weekly or daily tasks so you can reach those milestones.
Not only does this tactic help you plan effectively for achievement, you'll be able to fit these smaller tasks into your schedule. You can plan out your tasks all at one time or you can plan as you go, listing upcoming tasks based on what you achieved during the previous week or month.
Research means for achievement
In many cases, research should be the first task you set for yourself. Whether your goal is to increase sales, boost personal fitness, improve efficiency or something else, you need to have a plan of how to produce the desired outcome. Investigating the various ways to accomplish your goals will help you figure out what will work best for you. It will also help you determine whether the outcomes you are picturing are actually attainable.
Write down goals
Putting your specific, measurable overall goals and deadlines in writing gives them tangibility and helps cultivate the commitment you need to make them a reality. Also, reviewing your goals daily or several times a day keeps you focused and prevents you from wandering away from the goals in thought or deed. Plus, you are more likely to mull them over continually in the back of your mind and better spot opportunities if and when they arise.
Request help when needed
If the above tactics are not enough, hiring a consultant or coach may give you the boost you need. While a consultant tells you what to do according to a fixed system or established methods, a classic coach helps you find the techniques that will best suit you. If you are afraid that you may be too independent to accept help, Kay says that even highly independent people can value coaching when they come to it of their own accord.
These procedures should help you get back on track. Once you've accomplished your goals, take time to celebrate. You'll have earned it.
