Yes, you've all read about SMART Goals. However, have you created and followed through to SMARTER Goals? With Q4 coming to an end and everyone scrambling to reach their final numbers and goals, you may be fortunate enough to have a team ready to take 2019 by storm! If that is the case, or if you are reading this in January, let's get moving on creating some goals you will really achieve!
Even if you have tried this before, keep working to the ER section to see how to really see success!
What is your goal? Download High Ground Coaching's SMARTER GOALS WORKSHEET
here and let's work on this together.
SPECIFIC
A well written goal is specific. The more specific you are about your goal, the more likely - no matter what method you follow - to achieve it you are. This doesn't mean simply - "I will to make more money." or "I will lose weight."
When the goal is obscure, it allows the psychology of your mind to override your goals. You succumb to things like emotion-numbing activities, to easily avoid doing something that wasn’t that concrete in the first place.
Specifics are the fuel in the engine of your goals. You have to provide specifics if you’re going to achieve anything at all. When you write out your goals, be absolutely as specific as possible. And never be afraid to be too specific.
Try to answer as many of the W's as possible:
What do I want to accomplish?
Why is this goal important?
Who is involved?
Where is it located?
Which resources or limits are involved?
MEASURABLE
How are you going to know if you are succeeding or on the track to success? Lead and Lag indicators help to keep you moving in the right direction. Accessing your progress helps you stay motivated and move through the hard times that will rear up in front of you.
If a project or goal will take awhile, set milestones to measure progress.
ACHIEVABLE
The goal should stretch you but also be attainable. You may have to develop new skills, relationships or change habits. Think about this and make a plan for obtaining the skills, relationships and habits that you will need - add these to your plan.
RELEVENT
Relevance refers to your goal fitting into your longer term plans, values and ideals. It should match up with your core values. If your core values are contradicting your goal, then you’ll find yourself merely getting frustrated and giving up.
TIME BOUND
Providing a time line for deliverables in imperative. I like setting 90 day goal posts. It provides short term, realistic timelines that allow for celebrations or recalibrations. By setting intermediate goals, you are able to gauge your success and provides a sense of urgency.
EVALUATE
Set up a system to evaluate your progress and stick to it. Friday afternoons or Sundays work best for me. Don’t ignore this all-important step. Your mind has a very clever way of allowing you to ignore your goals by pushing you into emotion-numbing behaviors when those goals aren’t closely evaluated.
READJUST
Readjust doesn’t mean that you have to throw your goals out and start all over. What it means is that you have to try different approaches until you find yourself getting closer and closer to your goals. A plan constantly adjusts itself as it flies across the country to reach its goal. If, for example, you find yourself pursuing a goal but continuously hitting a brick wall, readjust your method and techniques. That’s why constant evaluation on a weekly basis is so important. If you don’t evaluate you can’t measure your progress.
Now is the perfect time to start working on not only your 5-3 and 1 year goals, but your 90 and 120 day goals. I will also be hosting a workshop in January to help you or your team getting to where realizing your goals is your reality. Details will be coming - stay tuned!