We’re a little way into the year now, long past the point of setting New Year’s Resolutions and new goals for the year. So, you may be thinking, “it’s a little late to be talking to me about setting goals, don’t you think?” Nope. First, it’s never too late to set goals for yourself. Goals and habits aren’t restricted to the calendar year. Additionally, a lot of the time we start the year strong with a list of goals and determination to make changes and find ourselves off track and unmotivated a month or two later. That’s because we didn’t truly set ourselves up for success. Sometimes a reset is all we need.

The activity of setting goals has been around for…well, quite some time. That’s because there’s no disputing it is a key factor for success. Knowing what you want to accomplish is generally a requirement for succeeding. However, just knowing what isn’t enough. The how is just as critical. That’s where proper and effective goal setting comes in. While there might not be a right or wrong way, there certainly is a “better” way to setting goals.

The first part of setting goals is:

1. Goals need to be short and clear. People often overcomplicate goals by trying to work in fluff and buzz words. Clear, easy to understand, and to the point is all you need.

2. Goals need to be actionable and measurable. Goals have to be something you can do and something you can track progress.

3. Goals need to be something you can control. A common mistake people make is setting (or accepting) goals where they have no control (for example, cost control goals when they have no authority in spending).

4. Goals need to be directed toward the bottom line. This applies to personal and professional goals. They need to be relevant to the true bottom line, and not just a list of tasks.

The second part of goal setting is monitoring and adjusting.

1. Create an action plan. You need to know what tasks and actions are required to achieve each goal.

2. Conduct regular check-ins and reviews. Depending on the goal, you should be checking in monthly, maybe quarterly. Don’t wait until the end of the year to look back and see if you succeeded.

3. Measure progress. Part of the check-ins needs to include tracking the progress. You need to see how much has been accomplished, what is remaining, and if what you have been doing is what you need to continue doing.

4. Adjust as necessary. Sometimes what you’ve been doing isn’t truly maintainable and you’re running yourself into the ground. You may need to adjust the goal. Sometimes the approach is working but a tweak here or there could allow you to achieve the goal more efficiently. Sometimes the goal can still be achieved but it requires an adjustment in the approach. Checking in and measuring progress should allow you to see how you may need to modify the game plan to ensure the goal is reached.

5. Find ways to stay motivated. If the goal is truly directed toward YOUR bottom line and within your control, it should be easy to find the motivation to see it through. This could mean focusing on the small wins along the way or keeping the benefits of the goal front and center,

Goals aren’t supposed to make you feel stressed. They aren’t supposed to make you feel like you “have” to do something that benefits others. Goals should be about what you want to accomplish or improve for your benefit. That doesn’t mean they can’t benefit others, but make sure it’s something you can control and measure yourself.

Grab this FREE 7-day planner for goal and habit setting and get started. This 7-day challenge allows you to get used to setting goals and finding those small wins. Plus, it’s FREE.

Have any other ways you’ve found to stick to your goals? I would love to hear about them!

If you’re looking for other ways to boost productivity, check out these other posts.