As the new decade comes into our sights, our thoughts inevitably turn to the coming year. What worked? What will you do differently? These tips will support you in reaching your goals in 2020.
We all have personal and professional goals. At the beginning of a new year, most of us are looking at how we’re going to make them happen. No matter how big or how small your business is, every company benefits from looking ahead.
While forecasting is a big part of business success, it’s sometimes the little things that get overlooked. When you’re busy doing what you do, it’s easy for some goals to get lost in the shuffle – especially if they are grandiose or unrealistic.
Studies show that setting smaller, attainable goals is the key to making them work. When you know something can happen, the more likely you are to put effort into it, and the better chance you have of seeing it all come to fruition.
Some of us are good at setting goals. Others, maybe not so much, but perhaps all you need is a little push in the right direction – and we’re all about that!
Here are our top tips for setting professional goals for 2020:
First Things First
Setting goals is about more than just declaring you’re going to do x-y-z and then floundering about in the effort to make it happen. You need an approach, and you need a plan.
For setting goals that work, be sure you are:
- Tracking the progress of your goal.
- Evaluating the progress against the desired endgame.
- Looking far enough forward that there is someplace to go once you’ve knocked this one down.
Successful people measure their progress on a consistent basis, make adjustments, reset, and revise their strategy.
Know Why You’re Doing What You’re Doing
The better you understand what you’re hoping to accomplish from your goal, the more likely it is you can see where it’s going wrong – or going right.
- What will this goal improve?
- What state or mindset do you want to create?
- Who or what do you want to influence?
- Where is improvement needed?
When you have answers, look at them in the context of your organizational goals, mission, or vision and revise as needed. Remember, they’re your goals. You get to tweak and adjust them as you like.
Stop Yourself From Expecting Too Much
We have all fallen into this trap at one point in our lives. You make sweeping declarations that are largely unachievable in the short-term, only to abandon the whole process because it is too monumental to get your head around it.
Everything sounds great in the warm glow of new year’s firelight. We know you want it, and we know you have the power to make it happen. However, expecting too much too soon is goal-setting suicide.
Instead, set incremental goals that allow you to see and track your progress. Set milestones to be evaluated every week, month, or quarter. Breaking your goals down into bite-sized chunks allows you to remain focused and stay on track. Being accountable for your wins and losses helps you stay the course, even if you run aground now and then.
If running your business more efficiently is one of your goals in 2020, Fusion Workplaces can help. We are Palm Desert’s flexible office provider, supporting people just like you with solutions that help you grow. Book a tour today to learn more.