Setting Goals

Each year, I spend the last of December and the first part of January setting goals. I set both personal and professional goals using the same method. It goes something like this:

1. Evaluate successes and opportunities from the year
2. Ask myself what goals need to carryover in to the next year
3. Set new goals and objectives
4. Give it time to simmer
5. Evaluate and finalize

The first three items probably sound familiar and perhaps similar to your process. Items four and five are why it takes me in to January to finish. I tend to be really ambitious when it comes to setting goals and after living through a couple of weeks and looking back on them, I sometimes realize that they are either unrealistic, not all that important or not detailed enough. Taking some time from my goals is a good way for me to determine if I am going to maintain or transform.

Shouldn’t we do both? Perhaps, but each requires a different strategy and one that must be aligned with the overall goals of the organization. For example, I can set my goals based on maintaining, meaning; maintaining relationships with clients, co-workers and our product but if the overall goals of the organization for 2012 are to transform, then we are misaligned and I will spend the year feeling disconnected and always playing catch-up.

February is quickly approaching but it is not too late to set goals. I would challenge you to answer the following questions before tasking your team with the activity:

1. Does every member of your team understand what the goals of the organization are?
2. Do they have a clear picture about how those goals could work in tandem with their personal goals?
3. Are they empowered to set goals that align with the goals of the organization?
4. How are these expectations communicated?

Your goals and the goals of each member of your team or organization should insure that individual talents are aligned with business strategy so that value is added to the organization. Setting goals that are effective and stand a chance to be completed rather than being an “exercise” for the sake of it, takes time and effort, but one that I think you will find worth it.