Beyond SMART Goals

Whenever it comes to setting goals, I always hear about SMART goals. Goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. But just because a goal is SMART, having the motivation to actually achieve that goal is a separate matter.

Image result for goalsI’ve set a lot of SMART goals before — many of them being personal goals. But as life happens, the goals I’ve mentally set for myself get pushed aside. I don’t make the time to go running in the morning because the kids need help getting ready for school. If I miss a workout day or have to cancel a date night because of scheduling conflicts, I rationalize it by saying I can always make it up tomorrow. And tomorrow never seems to come. There’s always more stuff piling up — more things to be done, and eventually, those simple goals I’ve set for myself are gone.

Many other people struggle with this as well. For example, when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, nearly 50 percent of people fail to achieve their goals. And from a business standpoint, this would be detrimental. Being able to achieve your goals is extremely important because so many things are on the line. Employees’ lives, product quality, and the company itself can be greatly affected by how well you are able to achieve your goals.

So, what can you do to assure you’re successful? The simplest way to start is by writing down your SMART goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qp1GiLSAHk

According to the research done by psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews, writing down goals increases the probability of obtaining them. In fact, her research illustrated that people who wrote down their New Year’s resolution goal were 33 percent more likely to achieve their goals, in comparison to someone who didn’t.

When you write down your goals, it gives you an opportunity to reflect on what it is you would like to achieve. Some of the questions you may want to ask yourself are: What do you want to accomplish? What is your game plan? How will you implement this plan?

So whether it’s a personal or business goal, once you have that down, the piece of paper becomes a physical representation of your goal. Now it’s no longer just an idea in your head, but something real and tangible. And being able to see and hold a representation of your goals is a great way to motivate yourself and keep yourself accountable.

If you have any questions or would like more information regarding goal-setting, contact us. We would be happy to help you on your road to success!