Setting Goals And Objectives

Many of us are been busy making lists at this time of year.

Lists of presents, Food for entertaining, and places we need to be are designed to help us achieve the perfect Christmas and New Year celebrations and ensure nothing is forgotten.

You could say that our Goal, is to have the best Christmas, and our objectives are the lists that help to make that happen.

Let’s face it, no one wants to be dashing through the snow, at the last minute, with memories of last Christmas when they forgot the Cranberry Sauce. But seriously….

Turning this to our Businesses. What are Goals? Why do we need them?

The easiest way to describe a Goal is something you want to make happen. Starting a business, learning to play guitar, or buying a new car, are all examples of Goals.

Objectives are the little steps we take to reach our goals.

If we use the example of buying a car, we might first set an objective of saving £50 a week, selling our old car, or applying for a loan, perhaps a combination of all three.

In their way, these steps are the tasks that motivate us along the way, because their success can be measured.  We all know how great it is when we tick something off our to-do list.

To help you achieve and manage your Goals and Objectives, I would recommend following the SMART Framework.

It works equally well for Businesses or on a personal level.

• Specific – Be specific and detail exactly what you want to achieve, does everyone understand it
• Measurable – How are you going to understand when you have achieved your Goal
• Achievable – Is this Goal possible? It needs to be realistic to motivate the team to attain it
• Relevant – Does your Goal meet with your business values and interests
• Time-based – Have you got an expected end date by which to achieve your Goal?

Do we need Goals and Objectives?

I would say, yes, we do.  Without them, we would have little to inspire or motivate us. They give us a reason to get up in the morning!

Motivation is a really powerful force in so many of us, it is what makes us keep trying. Anyone who has a dog will know what they will do to get a treat, and we are no different, we all want that feeling we get when we achieve what we set out to do.

Having a focus or an aim gives us direction.

Imagine waking up in the morning, having made no plans and set no goals for the day.

Would you achieve as much as you would, if you had made a list of everything you needed to achieve, and planned your day accordingly?

It is likely, that you wouldn’t.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the Goal is or how you keep it in your sight, we are all different.

Whether you have a list, a whiteboard, or something else, setting yourself Goals, might just be the best Christmas gift you can give yourself this year!

Let me know how you get on.