What will the next five years mean to you, and what are your immediate objectives? Goals are vital and powerful in business, and setting goals is itself a skill, with which you can help your business grow.
“Goals give a business direction and focus,” states Hywel Griffiths of APD Resolutions. “They provide a valuable sense of direction. But they are also the way you can measure your progress and success.”
The Route to Setting Goals Successfully
“First, choose goals that will motivate you,” Hywel says. “For this, they must be important to you and they must add value to you once you achieve them.”
This means setting goals that are in line with your business, and life, priorities.
Achieving goals requires commitment, so the goals must matter to you in the first place. If they create a sense of urgency in you, then you are more likely to stick to the task of achieving them”
“Write down your goals,” suggests Hywel, “and for each one, be clear why it’s important and valuable to you. This makes your goals feel real and tangible.”
Are Your Goals SMART?
Powerful goals are smart goals. SMART is an acronym for:
- Specific – make your goal well-defined and clear.
- Measurable – can you measure how successful your goals are? Use things like dates and amounts.
- Attainable – be realistic when setting your goals. They need to be things you can achieve.
- Relevant – your goals should be in line with the direction you want to travel. Aligned goals help you maintain focus.
- Time based – deadlines are crucial. They add a sense of urgency and, when you’ve achieved them, success.
“Put your SMART goals into an action plan,” advises Hywel, “This is an important step in setting goals because it keeps your focus on the process and not just the outcome.”
Hywel stresses that goal setting should be ongoing, because action plans are likely to change along the way.
“You must be flexible, even while you’re keeping sight of your goal. And along with this you need persistence, so that you stick with it.”
Common Mistakes in Setting Goals
Mistakes in goal setting can cost time, and end up leading you off-track. A common mistake is thinking you must wait for the perfect time to start.
“Procrastination is understandable, but damaging. Keep putting off your goal setting and you risk not doing it at all”
“Take small steps where necessary,” suggests Hywel, “because once you start, it will become easier to set your goals.”
Another mistake is not to have SMART goals, otherwise you may end up chasing something unattainable.
“Use SMART as your checklist, so that you don’t end up wasting your time,” Hywel says.
“The other thing to remember is to work on your goals regularly,” suggests Hywel. “It is too easy to set them then put them aside. They should have your continuing attention, so that you can be sure you reach them.
“Boost your self-confidence by celebrating the stages you reach in between. The small successes you notch up can help build up a sense of momentum as you work towards your goals,” Hywel concludes.
To discover how you can achieve business growth, and overcome the problems and issues many companies face:
- Call APD Resolutions on 07530 262855
- Read how APD Resolutions have improved other business, here
For an additional valuable read, please visit:
- Strategic Planning: Are You Destined to Fail?
- Startups: Can You Achieve Break Even and Beyond?
- Business Startups: Can Strategy Restore Work Life Balance?
