Setting Goals in Business

Just like in life, setting goals in business is to key to making a successful go of it.  There’s no hype to setting goals; in fact, it’s very important.  How will you get where you want to go without a set itinerary?  Goals tell you where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and what you’ll do once you’ve arrived at your destination.  So how to set goals in business?

First off, decide what you want.  Setting goals requires focus and also requires you to re-evaluate and make decisions about what you actually want.  You need to make goal setting a core principle of your business values.  You need to set a deadline and outline a plan to achieving said goals.  While suggestions are always welcome, don’t let outside influencers get in the way of truly thinking about what you want out of your business. “Goal setting is the opposite of floating through life letting things happen to you.”

Start small.  Goals don’t necessarily have to be all-encompassing at first.  They don’t have to be big and grand.  If you set your goals too high, you might find it overwhelming and time consuming which might lead you to give up instead of staying focused and really achieving what you’ve set out to achieve.  Goal setting isn’t all about success; there will be setbacks along the way (that I can guarantee) but keep your eye focused on the prize.  Small goals in business are preferable because you can measure achievement step by step in small increments.  Think about dates, times, amounts and details of your business goals.  “By breaking down goals in smaller, workable units, you are more likely to make them come true.”

Match your goals to relevant areas of your life.  Think about them as aspirations to things you want to achieve with broad intent.  By detailing your goals into specific realms of your business, you’ll gain more control and a sense of purpose over them.  Assign goals to different areas of your business – i.e., marketing, branding, customer retention, etc.

Be positive when stating your goals and keep a clear head about you.  “Stating your goal positively will help you view it as a good thing to do and not as a by-product of what you have to avoid.”  Don’t let goal setting overwhelm you.  Remember the benefits it will bring and the ways it will help you grow your business, stay on target and stay on track to success.

Don’t underestimate yourself.  Sometimes fear of failure can cause you to set your goals too low.  You don’t need to shoot for the moon right off the bat but that doesn’t mean you can’t set meaningful goals that are achievable.  It’s tempting to slack off at times if you feel too pressured to make your goals a reality.  Cut yourself some slack and take things step by step, day by day.  Remember, sometimes your fears are unfounded.  Don’t think about the negatives or all the roadblocks in your path.  Find a way to persevere.

Write your goals down and keep track of them and the progress you are making towards achieving them.  “Putting your goals down on paper is more than just memorizing it.  You are actually confirming your willingness to make it come true.”  A written list of goals is an effective reminder of what you need to do to reach them and will help you stay organized and on-track.  It will help you set a vision for where you want to go.   Think of setting up a goal sheet on your bulletin board or using a dry erase board where you can lay out concrete goals and visualize them – this might help you better organize your thoughts.

Affirm your goals.  Do the little things to make them come true.  Stay on a steady course.  Set goals every day and move forward little by little with confidence.  Tell yourself that you can achieve your goals and you will!  Don’t let detractors scare you off or run you off course.  Keep a strong focus.

Stop procrastinating and be proactive.  Setting goals can seem scary but if you just go for it and put fear out of your head, you’ll be on the right path to achieving them in no time.  Try to set a schedule for each goal you want to meet and reward yourself when you do.

See the challenge of goal setting as a positive not a negative.  Allow yourself to have great thoughts; don’t underestimate your capabilities.  Substitute shallow thinking when goal setting.  Think of goals that will add value to your business.  It’s not all about the goals that help you make money; it’s about the goals that make you see the bigger picture and what’s really important. 

Lastly and most importantly, now that you’ve set your goals, go out and make them a reality!  Review your progress along the way and remind yourself that what you’ve set out to achieve is indeed possible!

While setting goals in business can seem daunting and tedious at times, it really is something you can’t afford to ignore.  If you don’t know where you’re headed, how will you get there?  Do the little things every day that will lead you on the path to great things!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about setting goals in business:

“How to Set Business Goals”: http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/06/setting-business-goals.html

“A Guide to Goal Setting”: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/188454

“The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting”: http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/goalset.htm

“How to Set Goals for a Business”: http://www.ehow.com/how_2305175_set-business-goals.html

Until next time…