We start the New Year with a hiss and a roar, full of new energy and expectations. How often is it that we find ourselves in February, already losing that spark? Part of our practice is helping people achieve their goals. It is one thing to want something, and to talk about it, but it takes real accountability for success to happen.
The strongest driver behind a goal is the real reason as to why you want to achieve it. A goal without a reason in mind is simply an idea. It is easy to get bogged down by how you will work towards it, how long it will take, what steps need to be taken etc. This can become demotivating over time so it is important to spend some time figuring out what the real “why” is, and keeping your focus there to stay motivated.
A common goal-setting approach is the SMART goal system. When setting a new goal, for it to be achieved it must pass the checklist:
Specific – can you say it in one sentence?
Measurable – are there checkpoints along the way? How will you know you are on track?
Achievable – yet challenging? Setting the bar too high can lead to disappointment.
Realistic – can you honestly achieve this in the given time?
Time constrained – when will you achieve this by? Goals with no deadline get stuck in “work in progress” for too long.
Goals are important as they propel us through our professional and personal lives. They also teach us time management, and bring out our strengths (and weaknesses!). The more we know about ourselves, the more we can achieve.
And finally…. reward time! Staying positive certainly helps and one of the best ways to ensure this is to have rewards along the way. Rewards can also work well as check points, which tie in with the “measurable” section of SMART goals.
If you would like some help with this, come and see us or give us a call on 09 489 9320.
