Goal setting is critical to success. Plain and simple. If you don't know where you are going, all roads lead there...and you don't have time to travel all of them when you are trying to keep your edge in your marketplace. In this week's Power Idea, I would like to share with you the Criteria for Effective Goal Setting that has worked and sustained our practice for the past 16 years. We hope you will find it successful for you.
Your goals provide direction and motivation, and serve as tools for measuring your results. For maximum effectiveness and accomplishment, make sure your goals align with our WHYSMART methodology.
W=Written
Put your goals in writing to ensure that they are clear and specific. Writing down your goals forces you to clarify your thinking. If you are not able to clarify your goals, you need to challenge the original critical goal category or goal statement to be sure that you are focusing on what you really want to accomplish. Written goals promote accurate and sustained action. It is also easier to communicate your goals to the rest of the team, to review, discuss and prioritize these goals when there are others competing for your attention.
H=Harmonious
Your goals must harmonize with your vision and purpose, as well as with other goals. All elements of your plan must be complementary and mutually reinforcing. Unaligned goals will pull you in multiple directions and hamper your success.
Y=Yours
You will be most motivated to achieve goals that reflect your important desires and values. Be aware of what motivates you and tailor your goals to fit your personality.
S=Specific
Vague goals create confusion. In order to have clear direction and strong motivation, state your goals positively and specifically to help create a mental picture of what you want to accomplish.
M=Measurable
Measurable goals provide benchmarks for determining progress and evaluating results. Goals that are not measurable lack direction, value for motivation, and a reason to celebrate.
A=Attainable
Attainable is defined as being reached by efforts of the mind and body. Attainable goals should be beyond our reach and cause us to stretch. Goals should provide a challenge, so the rewards remain worth the effort.
R=Realistically high and Results oriented
Challenging goals stimulate creativity and commitment. Be clear about the end result your goal is designed to accomplish and focus on results.
T=Time bound
Dates for accomplishment are critical for planning, decision making, operational coordination and evaluation. Deadlines create a powerful and necessary sense of urgency which fosters achievement.
WHYSMART is an excellent criterion to make sure that you are maximizing the goal setting process to your advantage. Make sure all of your goals -- tangible, intangible, long or short term are evaluated against the WHYSMART concept and you will see a significant improvement in results.
At Houston Partners, we are experts in Goal Planning and Strategic Thinking. We invite you to contact us with any questions regarding goal planning efforts in your organization. You can call toll free at 866-217-2155 or email us at info@houstonpartnersinternational.com.
Have a Great Week!
Jerry
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