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Resolutions

by Claire Palmer

How to create goals that really make sense

In my corporate life January, if not the very end of the previous year, was spent drawing up goals for the year ahead. My New Year Resolutions were often vague with no review points or specifics whereas the goals I drew up where quite the opposite! Very often my resolutions lasted a few weeks but then got almost forgotten about although there were some feelings of guilt about not really getting them done. My goals on the other hand lasted all year. I then decided to take the same principles that I used for goals and apply to my New Year resolutions. I now find it's much more effective. The following are guidelines for forward planning, whether you're calling them goals, objectives or New Year resolutions. As always have fun. If it isn't fun then find a way to make it so! An end result.. Important to have but not always totally within your control whether in business or personal. For example, to be THE accountant for your area, appointed to the director job, get more business, come within the first 200 in the marathon or to be slimmer of the year is not always totally within your control. It will depend on external factors. Do have an end result but support it with a Performance goal. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." Les Brown. A Performance goal. This is your own personal goal which will get you to the end result. The end goal may provide the inspiration but the performance goal defines what exactly you're going to do. Taking the above examples, what does being THE accountant in your area mean to you? What needs to happen so you make the best possible effort in your job application? What is more business to you? What time do you need to do to be in the first marathon 200 and how much weight do you want to lose? For your own think 'What' and 'When' and remember the following S M A R T goals i.e. Specific, ,Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. e.g. End result; Lose weight so I'm slimmer than anyone else when we got on holiday Performance goal; I want to weight X kg by 1st June. Break it down as much as possible and always make it positive. Now you have the What and When you need the How? The process of how you are going to become THE accountant in your area? How are you going to make the best possible effort in your job application? How are going to attract that level of business by then? How are you going to achieve that time in the marathon 200 and how much weight do you want to lose? Again remember SMART. e.g. End result; Lose weight so I'm slimmer than anyone else when we got on holiday Performance goal; I want to weight X kg by 1st June. Process; Exercise 3 times a week, Eat around 1300 calories per day. Weight myself weekly. Break it down as much as possible and do remember to reward your successes regularly so it's not a hard slog. "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Henry Ford


About the Author


Claire Palmer works with those in leadership roles, professionals and business owners who want to achieve. Her coaching provides clarity, focus and direction as well as support & guidance.