In order for us to succeed at our goals we must take a look at what we are currently doing on top of planning the goal. In other words, are we using time to the best of our ability? Are there other resources that can help us accomplish our goal? And are the thing I am working on producing the right results?
Here are some steps to help you accomplish your goals.
- List them out - Write down what you want to accomplish. Written goals already start becoming more real to us once they are put to paper.
- Prioritize - Work on the most important things first. Important doesn't mean the quickest to complete or the easiest. Know what is the number one thing you should be working on and why.
- Rewards vs. Consequences - In order for you to take action on your goal, the reward has to be great enough or the consequence has to be bad enough for you to want to make the change. These also become the prime motivators as you are working towards your goal.
- Possible Obstacles - What's in the way? Is there anything that has prevented you from achieving this goal already? Think of as many as you can, no matter how big or how small. Also consider that YOU may be one of the obstacles. Most often the beggest challenge to reaching our goals is ourselves.
- Possible solutions - How can you overcome these obstacles? Figure out what would remove them from your path.
- Plan out your action steps - Work on the steps that will eliminate the obstacles.
- Delegate and set completion dates - Who could be working on this besides you? Often there is someone who can help us get our goals accomplished.
- Make sure you are doing the right things - What brings value to you, your company, your employees and your customers? Often we do things because that is what we have always done. When we set goals we heap more on our plate of work thus our reluctance to set timelines. Part of a change process is eliminating obsolete processes. Rarely do we do this. If you are having trouble figuring out what to let go of, talk with your staff, they may have the answer. Need more help? Find someone outside the company who will ask the right questions and help you become more efficient.
- Incorporate others in the goal setting process. - Whenever possible, bring in advocates to assist with the change process. Overall, your goal setting and achieving will work better and you will have some people who can help implement the change.
- Accountability - Without accountability, little would get done. Get support from others to help you as you work towards your goal. Report your successes and where you are stuck. Have them keep you on task and on target. There will be a greater chance for success.
