While visiting family, I was served a hot beverage in a coffee cup that had the 1997 annual goals of a major company etched down the sides. In reading the list, I wondered how many of them were achieved. I also wondered if there were too many. While its illuminating to get a sense of all the areas that could be evolved, more sustainable change can often be made with a few specific and meaningful goals. As a human being, its easier to stay connected to the behavior that is going to help you meet your objectives if it is clear, both in what it is and what it will shift. In other words are you going to leave yourself with the task to increase your sales or follow up with all qualified prospects within 48 hours to shorten the sales cycle? They both get at the same thing, but while the first may sound more aspiring on the surface, the second reminds you of what exactly you need to do on a regular basis to get to that 30% rise in signed contracts.
Arriving at such cleanly defined goals starts with getting a sense of your big picture. Start with thinking about what is the most important value that needs to be better expressed. Health and well-being? Professional mastery? Respectful communication? Next, in relation to that value, define how you will know you have been successful. Maybe it’s getting to the next level of certification or a feeling that you and your supervisor are on the same page each week. In addition, in order to gain that success – are there any resources to line up?
With those pieces of information, it will be easier to glean the actual behavior changes that need to be made towards your aspirations. For example, eating lunch with my supervisor a couple times a week to get to know them better moves me toward that improved relationship.
Lastly, since there is nothing quite like a running start to establish a trajectory and gain momentum, what can you start now, while still in 2014?