Do you know what you are striving to achieve by the end of the day? Do you have an idea of what you would like to see happen within the next quarter? Do you have a picture in your mind about where you want to end up in the next two years? If so, then you have goals and that’s a great place to start. Now, while setting goals is one thing, achieving or making them a reality is quite another thing altogether. Why is it that we have a bunch of goals in a goal diary or on an excel sheet that we often find difficult to tick off? Is it our efforts that are falling short or are the goals not the right ones to chase? Here’s a goal-setting lens or approach that will ensure you begin the first step of any success journey in the right way.
Your goals should be Specific
The first question to ask yourself when setting a goal is, “Am I setting a goal that’s specific or general?” Here’s an example. You could set the goal of ‘increasing your sales’ and then still not know where to start or how to go about making that goal happen. However, if you sharply define your goal to ‘identifying new sales strategies to increase sales’, you’ll know exactly what you need to do. A seasoned business coach can help you transition from the practice of listing broad-based goals to the approach of setting focused or specific goals.
Your goals need to be Measurable
How will you know where you stand as far as your goal achievement status is concerned? Should you continue at the pace you’re at, or double up your speed? Find a business coach who can help you make your goals measurable. Continuing with the example of ‘increasing sales’, you can make your goal measurable by quantifying it. Doubling Sales in 6 months, is a measurable goal that will enable you to track your efforts and performance and make course corrections – on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
Your goals need to be Attainable
For your goals to translate into results that will boost your confidence and self-belief, they need to be realistic. What kind of clients should you tap to double your sales in 6 months? A. Clients in the category that you already have proficiency in B. Clients in a category that’s one level-up C. Clients who are leagues above the level you currently operate in. Pick Category C and there’s a high probability, you will be relying on luck rather than merit to make things happen. Category B, though challenging, can prove attainable if you upgrade your strategies, skills and resources to meet the requirements of a higher level play. Another area where hiring business coaching services can prove to be a turning point in your business journey.
Your goals should be Relevant
A goal becomes a passion and not merely a statistic when you relate with it. How is increasing sales going to change your life or your business? Will it change the caliber of professionals that you bring into your business or the perception of prospects whom you approach to make future sales? Increasing Sales to enhance your business’ credibility in your sector, is a relevant goal that will make sure your efforts align with your beliefs, which is a powerful combination when it comes to chasing down even seemingly hard-to-attain goals.
Your goals have to be Time-Bound
When it comes to ‘identifying new strategies to increase Sales, you need to keep this process time bound. Rather than randomly getting down to speaking to experts or brainstorming to get new ideas and strategies, choose to ‘have alternate strategies on the drawing board within a week’ and then ‘see the effect over the next one month’. Setting timelines brings about a sharper sense of urgency and purpose, which will quicken the rate at which you make achievements happen.
Remember to be SMART when setting your goals. Follow the five goal-setting principles outlined above and see your efforts translate into tangible success experiences that will take you and your business to the next level. Visit polarisone.com to book an appointment that will change the course of your life or business, or download your free copy of ‘What Every Great Salesperson Knows - A No-nonsense Guide For Sales Success’ by Robert Arzt. Go for your goals!
