We talked briefly about setting goals for the new year. Remember, goals are a valuable tool which help you focus. But for them to be effective, they must be:
Specific – Clearly define your goal. Do not be vague or general. Give your goal a what, a why and a how.
Measurable – How will you know you have reached your goal? Give it a number; a total, a percentage, an amount.
Achievable -Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing.
Realistic – This is not a synonym for easy. Realistic, in this case, means do-able. Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable.
Timely – Set a time limit for the goal: for next week, in three months, by Jan 2014. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
Now that you have set your SMART goals, the fun has just begun. To reach your goals, you now must have a plan and some follow through. Be sure to clearly delegate tasks, conduct follow up and evaluate both individual and overall performance.
Start today and take that first step towards reaching our goals and improving your business and your community.