Module 6: The Power of Goal-Setting
Setting goals is an essential part of any business. Goals help
to communicate what is important, and help to provide
motivation and a sense of direction. It is vital to create goals
amongst employees that align to the overall organization, in
order to achieve powerful results. Begin by establishing a
basis for your goals, and continuously use these goals as
encouragement to stay accountable and reach the final
objective.
Setting SMART Goals
Since setting goals is an imperative strategy to reaching success and
fostering accountability, we must be mindful of how we are
planning these goals. It is beneficial to set SMART goals, or rather
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely goals.
Specific: Ensure the goal is clear and concise. Specificity includes
establishing answers for who, what, when, where, why and how.
Measurable: This includes establishing how many, how much, and by when.
Achievable: Do you have the skill set, capability, or resources to complete the required work?
Realistic: The task/goal should be realistic in that it is achievable, given the factors surrounding it.
Timely: Consider the time frame, including the start date and end date.
This criterion can be used as a guide in determining objectives and creating an action plan to foster
accountability.
Who is Accountable?
Goals for the business should not solely be assigned to one
individual. Every employee should be accountable for particular
objectives, and take ownership and initiative for these
objectives.
Goals within the company can incorporate each level of work.
Individual Goals: These goals will help to build and reach the larger objectives of the company.
Team Goals: This includes goals for particular departments, and collaborations.
Organization/Business Goals: Individual and team goals are shaped from organizational goals.
Simply put, these goals are the bigger, long-term goals that benefit the business or company as
a whole.
Identifying Your “Why”
When setting goals, it is effective to remind yourself of your “why”. Why is
this goal important to you, or your business? Why are you accountable for
this assignment? Understanding your purpose is an important starting point
in directing you on how to achieve your goals.
Determining your role will allow you to measure your progress and success.
You have expectations as an employee, so it is essential to establish how you
are going to live up to these expectations. Always remember that your
position plays an important part for an overall organization. Understand why
you are beneficial to your team!
Goal Lengths
In order to stay accountable, there are different goals that
can help us to achieve this. These include short-term goals
and long-term goals. Determining both short and long-term
goals is beneficial in making the vision of these goals come
true.
Short-term goals are goals that are desired to be
accomplished in the near future. It is advantageous to have
many short-term goals and slowly progress in your achievements, rather than becoming overwhelmed
with one main goal at the beginning. Long-term goals are typically completed after first accomplishing
your short-term goals, and require extra time and planning. Short-term goals are likely to be achieved
individually by team members, while progressing toward the overall long-term goal of the organization.
Remaining Loyal to Your Goals
Remaining loyal to your goals can often be easier said than done.
Oftentimes, the intention-action gap occurs, in which we state and
plan what we are going to do, however these plans are not
followed through. Remind yourself that you are accountable for
achieving particular results, and your team has social expectations
of you.
There are steps you can take in order to stay loyal to your goals,
and remain accountable to your business. Here are some
strategies that can help:
Write down your goals. By writing down your goals, you are stating a promise to yourself that
can help you stay accountable to your work. This can include posting reminders to yourself, or a
checklist placed in a visible location.
Share your goals with others. Your coworkers, friends, and family can help to support you in
achieving your goals.
Technology. You can program your goals in many different online systems. This is a good way to
help remind you, and track your process.
Recognize Weaknesses. It is important to understand your weaknesses, in order to remove
these weaknesses from your game plan.
Visualization. By visualizing your goals, you are more likely to reach your goals. Picture yourself
achieving these goals.
Mindful Meditation. Throughout the process, things can become overwhelming at times.
Practicing mindful meditation can help you to be present, and stay in control of the process.
In order to be accountable, you must remain loyal to your goals and the overall process. A strong
willpower will lead to great success.
Practical Illustration
Zoah was always setting work goals, but never seemed to be able
to achieve her goals. She felt as though her tasks were always
taking her longer than expected, and she was never fully satisfied
with the outcome of her work. Zoah was easily distracted by
things in her office space, and often became stressed when she
realised how much work she had to do.
Zoah’s colleague, Leah, noticed that Zoah had been falling behind with her goals, so she decided
to help Zoah. Leah explained to Zoah the importance of setting SMART goals, and techniques to
stay loyal to her goals, including writing them down. She suggested practicing visualization and
mindful meditation to control her thoughts and ideas. Zoah was very thankful that Leah took the
time to discuss strategies with her. Zoah cleaned up her workspace, and began by writing down
her organized list of SMART goals. She hung up this list in a visible location, and started
working toward these goals.
