Setting Organizational Goals For The New Year
It seems that everyone sets New Years Goals, “New Year, New You!” is the tagline I keep hearing.
I am not referring to your “New Year’s Resolutions” (Statistics show a success rate of only 3% by January 31st). I am referring to your “Real Goals” for 2022.
Sitting at my "retreat" in Victoria, BC, looking out from the 17th floor over the Inner Harbor, the City and the Parliament buildings between Christmas 2021 and New Years 2022 was extremely rewarding.
One of my goals for 2022 is to come to my ‘retreat’ for a week each quarter to work, read, relax, walk, contemplate, revisit goals, meditate, and ponder. I urge you to find "your place" to do the same. It can be a row boat or a sail boat; a picnic table in a park, a table in a resort somewhere, or any other place that allows you ‘thinking time’. Grab a Starbucks, a glass of wine or pitcher of water and begin to move FORWARD by setting SMART goals.
If you have not yet sat down to determine your goals for 2022 for your family life, your spiritual life, your health, or your career use this guide to get you started. First, complete the worksheets on your own and then ask for feedback from a few key people in your life. If you get stuck, send me a note.
Commit now to make 2022 your best year yet!
Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T.:
S Specific: For Example: Exercise 3 times a week vs. exercise more
M Measurable: For Example: Lose 2 pounds a month vs. lose weight
A Attainable: For Example: Set goals that will stretch you, but are realistic
R Relevant: For Example: Set goals based on what you need to achieve, not what others want you to achieve
T Time Bound: For Example: Pay off the credit card by March 15 vs. pay off the credit card
Make sure your goals will move you F.O.R.W.A.R.D.:
F Finalize your goals
O Order your plans
R Risk failing by taking action
W Welcome mistakes
A Advance based on your character
R Re-Evaluate your progress continually
D Develop new strategies to succeed
To keep your goal “alive”, I strongly recommend that you refer back to the attached worksheets weekly, monthly and quarterly. If you need that "extra push", consider finding an Accountability Coach to remind you of your goals and to hold you accountable to achieving them.
I have found that setting goals annually and then reviewing the progress weekly and monthly is critical to accomplishing them. A detailed review every three months, four or six months, (in this order for effectiveness, but the choice is yours) allowing for some tweaking where needed, gives assurance that I will stay on track.
This is not about making frivolous New Year’s Resolutions that are forgotten by January 5 (OK, by January 31, for those who are more disciplined). This is about really digging down to determine what is important, what really matters to you and then putting SMART goals in place to move you FORWARD in achieving them.
Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”
Create habits that will allow you to achieve your goals in the year ahead. My wish for you is that 2022 will be a year full of rewards, opportunities and personal achievement.
- Coach Casey