Ready or not, 2023 is here! We have closed out one year of our lives and are at the beginning of a new one! The new year brings renewed optimism and energy; and yet, before long, we will be back in the hustle of life. In what feels like a blink, we will be anticipating January 1, 2024!
Where will you be on this date one year from now? Where do you want to be in your business/career and life? Have you determined your course for this next year and written down your goals?
According to a recent study across a diverse study group, the simple act of writing down goals boosted achievement by 42 percent![1] And yet, only 16% of people set goals for themselves and only 36% of large organizations have a system for goal setting.[2]
When using a mapping system, you need to enter the correct destination to reach the desired endpoint. Many people go through life with vague ideas about where we want to go and how to get there. Just like in travel, goal-setting systems (such as the SMART[3] system), can help us gain clarity and can be a powerful tool for achieving our dreams. The SMART goal-setting system has been around for over 40 years in the business world. This system has been revised and expanded many times to allow us to take it even further to help set great goals!
You may be familiar with the original SMART goal system:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time bound
Here at Strategic Consultant, we use the SMART-EST goal-setting framework. This framework builds on already proven methodology and takes it even further to help you elevate your potential. The additional strategic elements are:
Economic - the goals should be financially planned and budgeted for
Strategic - the goals should be aligned with the overall corporate strategy AND have a high-level plan to take you where you want to go
Tactical - the goals should have clear and concise individual steps and actions outlining the “how” of getting there
The question is… are you going to idle through yet another year or are you going to make this year count? Set clear and precise goals, get a plan in place, and then enjoy seeing the progress even during life's whirlwinds! If you take this simple step, then next December as you reflect on the past year you will smile at your progress in 2023!
References
[1] Gail Matthews, "The Effectiveness of Four Coaching Techniques in Enhancing Goal Achievement," presented at the Ninth Annual International Conference on Psychology, sponsored by the Athens Institute for Education and Research, May 25-28, 2015, https://www.dominican.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/gailmatthews-harvard-goals-researchsummary.pdf
[2] A.C., "22 Goal Setting Statistics You Should Know (Facts and Studies), HQ Hire, https://hqhire.com/goal-setting-statistics/
[3] Doran, George T. “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives.” Management Review 70.11 (Nov. 1981): 35. Business Source Corporate. EBSCO . 15 Oct. 2008.
Comments