GOAL SETTING
Starting Point to Grow Your Business
“If one advances
confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavours to live the life
which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common
hours.”
- Henry
David Thoreau
"If a man does
not know where he is going in life he will only end up where he is
headed."
- Confucius
The most
powerful tool of personal/professional leadership is the activity of setting
goals; for ourselves, our family, our business and our future. Stephen Covey,
in his book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" says,
"if we are serious about providing personal leadership for our lives we
must begin with the end in mind" (Habit #2). So, why not begin everyday
with the end in mind?
Have you given
any thought to where would you like to be in 3 years, 5 years, 10 years? Do you
have a vision for your future? If you're concerned about your future, about
where you're going to be in 3, 5, 10 years, it would be helpful to plan for
your future.
The foundation
of self-management and self-improvement is based on goal-setting. It is the
essence and at the heart of almost every aspect of being successful. Without
exception, the literature on personal effectiveness always discusses goal
setting as the foundation upon which personal effectiveness is developed. The
key is to create a balance between your roles and your goals and have them both
fit under the umbrella of your personal values and vision of what your life is
about.
Key points on Goal Setting
-
Goals should be set for both
short-term (next 12 months) and long-term (next 3-5 years), and related to your
personal, professional and spiritual existence.
-
Goals should be committed to
paper, reviewed and updated periodically to remain consistent with your vision
and values.
-
Goals should be defined within
a range of possible outcomes only when you're unable to set a specific goal.
-
Goals should never be
established for self-glorification, or at the expense of others.
-
Goal setting with others should
always be done in a face-to-face setting.
-
Goal setting should include any
qualified conditions pertaining to their achievement.
-
Goal setting can translated
into confidence building.
-
Goals should only be shared
with people you trust and respect.
As you can see,
the process of goal-setting is very deliberate and structured. It requires an
understanding of your personal, professional and spiritual values and the
vision for your life. It also requires that you be willing to do whatever it
takes to achieve your goals, as long as they are legal, moral, and ethical. The
operative words in this commitment are ‘be willing’. You must possess a
willingness to do whatever is required (this does not necessarily mean you will
have to do anything - just be willing and ready to, if it is necessary) to
achieve your goals.
The achievement
of your goals will also require that you put forth time and effort. Without
action, goals are merely fantasies. We all wish we were rich and famous and
never had to work anymore. While this is a bit nebulous, it is nevertheless
possible for anyone to achieve, if they are willing to put forth the time and
effort to do what it takes to get there. Peter Drucker said, “Most people don't
plan to fail, they just fail to plan.” We all need a ‘blueprint’ for our lives
if we are to get what we desire. In the process it’s important that we be
flexible enough to respond to the changes, challenges and opportunities we are
likely to encounter, in our commitment to achieving our goals.
SUMMARY
Goal Setting
requires
Structure:
Start with a
dream and then identify the goal, objectives, strategies, and tactics to accomplish
the desired results.
Content:
Should be
‘SMART’ (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound)
Action:
Armed with a
positive attitude, create a plan, put forth the time and effort and measure
your progress in the process of achieving your goals.
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