How to set goals and stick to them

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I am sure we all have an example of where you have set a goal or New Year’s resolution only to find a few weeks or months down the line the goal has fallen by the wayside.

The act of setting a goal is easy, we can all set goals we’d like to achieve. It’s implementing and sticking to the goals that people find the hardest. Why? Because setting and achieving goals normally means hard work and change, and for many people, change can be unsettling; scary even.

But there is a reason as to why you set that goal in the first place – because it is something you want to achieve. Here are some steps that can help you set your goals and stick to them.

Make your goals specific.

For example, saying ‘I want to spend more time networking in 2020’ is vague. A vague goal will achieve vague results. Many people swear by setting SMART (opens in a new window) goals to add the detail required::

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time focused

By using the SMART acronym, the above example can turn into ‘I will attend at least one networking event a month in 2020.’

Specific goals provide the details required to keep focused. Set specific goals and you are more likely to stick with them.

Make your goals realistic

There is nothing wrong with ambitious goals, but unrealistic ones can be damaging to morale and motivation. Are your goals achievable in your current situation? If not, what needs to change for them to become reality?

Break your goals down into manageable, smaller goals

For example, if you want to increase your profit margin by 50% by the end of the year, what steps do you need to take in order to get there? How many more clients or sales will you need in order to achieve that? What actions do you need to take to secure more customers or sales?

Be accountable

Write your goals down and own them. The only person who is responsible for reaching your goals is you, so be accountable for them. Share goals with people you trust like a business partner or your team. If you are self employed, do you have a ‘business buddy’ to use as a sounding board or update?

Ask for help or support

No one can run a successful business on their own. Recognise and acknowledge that in order to achieve your goals, you might need help. For example, you might want to outsource your finances to an accountant or your business admin to a Virtual Assistant.

Regularly review your goals and be flexible

It’s so easy to be consumed by working for your clients and managing the day to day requirements of running your business. But it is so important to regularly review the progress and evolution of your goals. You might find that as you progress, the goal needs to change or becomes redundant. It’s important to recognise this early rather than continuing to work on an outdated goal, by doing so you will save valuable time, effort and possibly money.

Good luck with your goal setting, but more importantly, good luck with your goal implementation. I’d love to hear your tips on how you stick to your goals.