The Secret to Achieving your Goals

So, you've taken the first big step by setting your goals for the year. Let's fast forward to June 2022, it feels like the year flew by and you are suddenly hit with the reality that there are only 6 more months left in the year; maybe less if we factor in the summer shenanigans and the holiday blitz. You remember all the goals you wrote in January and panic sets in; how will you ever be able to achieve these goals in less than 6 months? And to make matters worse, it's tied to your performance review. Now you feel as if you have failed and your confidence takes a hit. Luckily, this person is not you. You took the appropriate steps to ensure that your goals were properly tracked by implementing milestones and addressing obstacles in a timely manner. I think we would all agree that goal setting is the easy part, the hard part is follow-through, sticking to your goals, and creating systems to ensure that you are achieving your goals. “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Here are three simple steps you can use to put yourself in the best position to achieve your goals this year.

1.       Use the SMART goal method

2.       Think in Systems

3.       Be Agile

SMART Goal Method

How you set up your goals correlate to the level of your success. SMART stands for specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-based. A specific goal clearly states what is to be accomplished. This goal should also be relevant and align with your values, mission, and in the case of work goals, they must align with the vision and mission of your department.  And lastly the goal should be reasonably achievable within a specific timeframe.

Here’s an example of a SMART Goal:

Networking – I will expand my network by 10% by the end of 2022. I will do this by attending one professional networking event each quarter and introduce myself to at least 3 people, exchange contact information and follow up post event.

This goal is very specific with actions that you can track throughout the year.

Think In Systems

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” – James Clear, Atomic Habits

Commonly we rely on will power and our memory to help us achieve our goals, which is not sufficient. The systems we put in place to help us achieve our goals will be the greatest factor in our success. A few examples of some systems that can be put in place for achieving your goal in the workplace include:

·       Creating milestones for every goal: Create a list of small actions that can be accomplished before your goal deadline. Milestones help with two things; they help to track your goals and remove obstacles and they also help to boost your confidence when you are achieving regular wins.

·       Put first things first: Actions tied to your goals should always be the first thing you tackle for the day. Dedicate time to your goal each and every day.

·       Accountability: No one is an island; we cannot do it alone. One way of accountability at work is through regular one on ones with your manager. You can use this time to review your goals and get support from your manager when you hit a roadblock.

·       Lastly, automate: schedule reminders, create a reoccurring event on your calendar to follow up on your goals, and create tasks in MS outlook.

Be Agile

Now that you have SMART goals and systems in place, remember to be agile. Agility is the ability to move quickly and easily. This is important because things change. There is no way to avoid change and as much as we want to accomplish a goal, we must be willing to adapt and adjust the goals and systems as necessary. Plan as much with the information that you do have but when things change make all necessary adjustments.

I hope you will find these tools powerful and at the end of the year you will be one of the few that can say you achieved all your goals for the year. You are diligent, dedicated, and hardworking with the capacity to accomplish all your goals this year!