We all have things we would like to achieve but do we turn them into concrete goals? I do.
I have professional goals that I set on a financial year basis, and personal goals that I set on a calendar year basis. Simple reason: to many goals at once can be overwhelming so I find that breaking them up this way helps me.
I set five or six goals, and then track them in Asana with an automated monthly check in. I make sure they all have different deadlines so that I don’t get overwhelmed, and I also adjust them as I go along. If a goal is no longer relevant, I ditch it. If it’s going better than planned, I make it a stretch goal and expand the parameters.
One woo woo thing I do is set goals around great planetary alignments. A new moon is the best time to set intentions, and while most people think this sounds bonkers, I would rather work with nature than against it.
The framework I use for goal setting is the SMART system. There are many ways I have seen to interpret this framework but here’s our it works for me.
S = specific. Often people set weight loss goals. In that context you would say that you want to lose 5kgs.
M = measurable. Every goal should be measurable. If it’s not, it’s probably not a goal. State that explicitly. Some example measures are kilos (see above) or % or $
A = action. What are the key actions or activities that need to take to make this happen?
R = results. What will success look like?
T = timeframe. What is the deadline or review date for this goal?
An example of a SMART goal is to lose 5kgs by cutting back on soft drink so that I will fit into these pants by June 30.
Goals need to be connected to what’s important to you. I love to cross-check them against the Four Pillars of Business here.
I also think it’s super important to understand the investment you put into achieving your goals. Understand the time, resources and money it will take to achieve the goal. I like to state very clearly what the investment is and what the anticipated return will be. Ask yourself is it worth it? It helps understand and shape your commitment.
I have found this works well for me. What works for you?
