ANNE

2. Set SMART Goals

You have probably heard of SMART goals  already. But do you always apply the rule? The simple
fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. There are many
variations of what SMART stands for, but the essence is this – goals should be:
Specific.
Measurable.
Attainable.
Relevant.
Time Bound.
Set Specific Goals
Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because
they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way. Make
it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end
up.
Set Measurable Goals
Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of
success. If your goal is simply defined as "To reduce expenses" how will you know when you
have been successful? In one month's time if you have a 1 percent reduction or in two years'
time when you have a 10 percent reduction? Without a way to measure your success you miss
out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something.
Set Attainable Goals
Make sure that it's possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a goal that you have no hope
of achieving, you will only demoralize yourself and erode your confidence.
Bottom of Form
However, resist the urge to set goals that are too easy. Accomplishing a goal that you didn't
have to work hard for can be anticlimactic at best, and can also make you fear setting future
goals that carry a risk of non-achievement. By setting realistic yet challenging goals, you hit the
balance you need. These are the types of goals that require you to "raise the bar" and they
bring the greatest personal satisfaction.
Set Relevant Goals
Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping
goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want.
Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time – and your life – away.
Set Time-Bound Goals
Your goals must have a deadline. Again, this means that you know when you can celebrate
success. When you are working on a deadline, your sense of urgency increases and
achievement will come that much quicker.
MARIEFER
3. Set Goals in Writing
The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for
forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For
example, "I will reduce my operating expenses by 10 percent this year," not "I would like to
reduce my operating expenses by 10 percent this year." The first goal statement has power and
you can "see" yourself reducing expenses, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if
you get sidetracked.
Tip 1:
Frame your goal statement positively. If you want to improve your retention rates say, "I will
hold on to all existing employees for the next quarter" rather than "I will reduce employee
turnover." The first one is motivating; the second one still has a get-out clause "allowing" you to
succeed even if some employees leave.
Tip 2:
If you use a To-Do List , make yourself a To-Do List template that has your goals at the top of it.
If you use an Action Program , then your goals should be at the top of your Project Catalog.
Post your goals in visible places to remind yourself every day of what it is you intend to do. Put
them on your walls, desk, computer monitor, bathroom mirror or refrigerator as a constant
reminder.

4. Make an Action Plan

This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that
you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual
steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making
progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and
demanding, or long-term. Read our article on Action Plans  for more on how to do this.
5. Stick With It!
Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity, not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to
keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals. Your end
destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself
along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain
high.
Key Points
Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you
clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds
of success are considerably reduced. By following the Five Golden Rules of Goal Setting you can
set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you
achieved what you set out to do.
So, what will you decide to accomplish today?
ARJAY
Further Tips for Setting Your Goals
The following broad guidelines will help you to set effective, achievable goals:
State each goal as a positive statement – Express your goals positively – "Execute this technique
well" is a much better goal than "Don't make this stupid mistake."
Be precise – Set precise goals, putting in dates, times and amounts so that you can measure
achievement. If you do this, you'll know exactly when you have achieved the goal, and can take
complete satisfaction from having achieved it.
Set priorities – When you have several goals, give each a priority. This helps you to avoid feeling
overwhelmed by having too many goals, and helps to direct your attention to the most
important ones.
Write goals down – This crystallizes them and gives them more force.
Keep operational goals small – Keep the low-level goals that you're working towards small and
achievable. If a goal is too large, then it can seem that you are not making progress towards it.
Keeping goals small and incremental gives more opportunities for reward.
Set performance goals, not outcome goals – You should take care to set goals over which you
have as much control as possible. It can be quite dispiriting to fail to achieve a personal goal for
reasons beyond your control!
In business, these reasons could be bad business environments or unexpected effects of
government policy. In sport, they could include poor judging, bad weather, injury, or just plain
bad luck.
If you base your goals on personal performance, then you can keep control over the
achievement of your goals, and draw satisfaction from them.
Set realistic goals – It's important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (for
example, employers, parents, media, or society) can set unrealistic goals for you. They will often
do this in ignorance of your own desires and ambitions.
It's also possible to set goals that are too difficult because you might not appreciate either the
obstacles in the way, or understand quite how much skill you need to develop to achieve a
particular level of performance.