Setting a goal and devising a plan to reach it can be daunting work, but these guidelines may provide the help and techniques needed to turn those aspirations into actuality.
Regardless of the path taken, whether personal, professional, or somewhere in-between, the ability to effectively set goals plays a vital role in every person’s individual evolution. Likewise, businesses and organizations rely on goal setting and proper planning to drive and grow profits, to adhere to cohesive branding, and expand their teams. The starting point in any and all effective management is setting goals because they provide structure, particularly when working with or managing employees, as well as a unified purpose, which can inspire people to work more efficiently together and make them feel like they are part of something important, something bigger than themselves.
Without goals or some kind of greater aim, efforts become directionless and, ultimately, less effective than when they are focused on a particular task or outcome. When there is no clear vision for a person’s or a company’s future, planning and delegating work is more difficult, leading to slower, or even less success, unfulfilled employees, and frustration. To avoid these undesirable circumstances, here are eight tips to give guidance on how to effectively set goals to get the most out of yourself or your team.
1. Visualize the larger goal – know the “big picture.”
It doesn’t matter if it’s just one person trying to figure out a career path, or a giant multi-level corporation. Both need to know what is the ultimate motivation behind every decision made and every task completed. For some, the “big picture” goal could be an on-going and ever-growing entity, like a non-profit working to diminish disease or fighting against poverty. For others, it could be achieving certain growth rates or reaching international status. Whatever the case, the best place to start is always your best-case-scenario because it will help inspire the ambition necessary to complete every task in-between.
2. Take inventory of skills
No matter the goal or endgame, a certain amount of skill and knowledge will always be necessary to achieve success. Once it’s established what an individual or business is working toward, the next step is to observe the skill sets one has at their disposal. This will help reduce wasting time and resources, especially money, which can be precious to individuals, management, and companies that have little access to work with when beginning to plan for a major goal.
3. Find the gaps
Once the skills and talents that are already in play have been tallied, it’s time to consider what is lacking. For example, if it’s a person that is hoping to make a career change, that may mean they are missing a component of education necessary for the job they hope to get. Or perhaps there’s some networking involved to help grease the wheels of such a transition. For a company, perhaps it has great technical or analytical skills at its disposal, but it’s missing the creative edge that will help it connect on a deeper, more emotional level with its intended audience or clientele. Admitting one’s shortcomings and being able to identify what’s missing in the repertoire is key to successful planning and, in the end, reaching the goal being set.
4. Break down the big goal
Once the skills and talents that are already in play have been tallied, it’s time to consider what is lacking. For example, if it’s a person that is hoping to make a career change, that may mean they are missing a component of education necessary for the job they hope to get. Or perhaps there’s some networking involved to help grease the wheels of such a transition. For a company, perhaps it has great technical or analytical skills at its disposal, but it’s missing the creative edge that will help it connect on a deeper, more emotional level with its intended audience or clientele. Admitting one’s shortcomings and being able to identify what’s missing in the repertoire is key to successful planning and, in the end, reaching the goal being set.
5. Organize, categorize, and plan
The list has been made of everything that must occur in order to reach the overarching goal, which means it is now time to organize and categorize each task. Certain things may not be able to be completed until other tasks are done first, so this is where in-depth, specific planning must begin. Creating scaled timelines for projects is key, as well as realistic deadlines. The point of creating a plan is not just to be prepared for the “must be done”, but also set up for successful navigation of those tasks. Teamwork can feel scattered and unproductive without a proper plan that plays to strengths and timing, so a manager must consider the overall narrative of the goal – what must happen first, second, third, and so on – so that all parties involved are always on the same page forging ahead.
6. Fill the gaps, either with the appropriate team or further experience and education
The list has been made of everything that must occur in order to reach the overarching goal, which means it is now time to organize and categorize each task. Certain things may not be able to be completed until other tasks are done first, so this is where in-depth, specific planning must begin. Creating scaled timelines for projects is key, as well as realistic deadlines. The point of creating a plan is not just to be prepared for the “must be done”, but also set up for successful navigation of those tasks. Teamwork can feel scattered and unproductive without a proper plan that plays to strengths and timing, so a manager must consider the overall narrative of the goal – what must happen first, second, third, and so on – so that all parties involved are always on the same page forging ahead.
7. Begin the plan, but be objective
Just because a plan has been made, doesn’t mean it will look like a clean, linear path. Life happens, things change, and there are many obstacles the world can throw in any direction that are simply out of people’s control. Perhaps this past year is the greatest example of that. Making a solid plan means not just planning for sunny skies. Plan for setbacks. Plan for the ugly unknowns. Plan for failure. Consider all the horrible things that could go wrong, and rather than letting those things instill fear, use them as an advantage. Communicate clearly and often when working with a team or managing employees. As an individual or company works toward a goal, alterations, at times, will have to be made. Staying objective and keeping lines of communication open and easily accessible will allow for flexibility to come more naturally when it’s needed most.
8. When the chips are down,be a problem-solver
In business, as in life, nothing ever happens exactly as we expect. So rather than being pulled into negative thought patterns and allowing frustration and uncertainty to infect one’s ambition or a team’s momentum, effective and creative problem-solving must always be at the forefront of any plan made and any goal set. It is, in many ways, what sets apart those that win and those that lose. Taking things in stride and keeping focus will always help pull an individual or business out of whatever problems or issues that may arise on their journey. Harnessing this kind of attitude will too make the reward all the sweeter for everyone involved.
Setting goals in an effective and realistic way can seem tricky, but with the right plan, a positive attitude, and honest communication, the possibilities of what can be accomplished are limitless.
Effective goal setting in the workplace, as well in one’s personal life, essentially always will have the same formula. The magic is simply in the setup, the preparation, the self-awareness, and the planning skills. These aspects are what will always decide whether or not a goal will be achieved. Different hopes might require different things, like the right collection of skills, education, and experience, but the road is built with similar materials. Keep an open-mind, always seek out more knowledge, and empower people to transform the goal into reality.
