Goal setting for your business is an essential tool for success.
What are your goals? What do you envision your accomplishments will be this time next year?
If you get a blank on either of these questions, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But if you’re plowing through each day just dealing with what’s in front of you, the result is getting caught in the habit of “reaction”. With the hectic pace of life and work, it can be too easy to neglect the bigger picture and vision for your business. Not having clear goals might be the missing link in what’s holding your business back.
The definition of goal setting by the Small Business Encyclopedia is: “Establishing short- or long-term objectives, usually incorporating deadlines and quantifiable measures.” [1]
Goals are a powerful motivating factor for moving your business forward because they bring abstract ideas down to concrete form. Goals also require a laser-focused definition of what the achievement of a desirable outcome looks like. Whether business goals are to set direction or provide motivation, they should be specific, measurable, achievable, and timely.
SMART Goal Setting
You may have heard of the “SMART” method of setting goals. This acronym for the 5 steps of Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based goals is an effective tool used by many businesses to reach their goals consistently.
There’s plenty of online information and tutorials to assist you in how to set or evaluable goals using this tool.
Next, once your goals are SMART, break down each goal into clear tasks and activities that are needed to accomplish your goals. Even just a small step each day will add up to powerful change over the coming weeks and months!
It’s important to periodically review your goals and make adjustments if necessary, because life happens and priorities change.
Goal setting isn’t just for New Year’s Day … any time is a good time to assess what you want to accomplish in your business.
