It is 2016: Do You Know Where Your SMART Goals Are?

It is 2016! Do you know where your SMART goals are?

Abraham Lincoln once said, “A goal properly set is halfway reached.”  Wise words indeed, but, how many people really set goals, even though they believe in the concept? Not too many.

Goal setting might sound like a cliché, but it is a powerful exercise as it provides a sense of direction, helping us decide where we want to go and how we will get there. But, it requires SMART thinking. It requires that our goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely, and aligned with our deepest desire. Below are five SMART steps that could help you stay focused and achieve your goals in 2016:

SET GOALS INSTEAD OF RESOLUTIONS

It is common for many of us to make New Year’s resolutions. We are turning over a new page, everything looks and sounds exciting, and we resolve to do a lot of things. The problem is these resolutions are transitory. They disappear almost as fast as they are made. Goals, on the other hand, seem more tangible and realistic, and easier to be attained. Goal setting is a critical element of one’s career, or life, but it requires discipline and commitment. It doesn’t make sense to say, “I resolve to get a new job, change my career, or start a business”, then sit around and wait for them to fall in your lap. It’s not going to happen! You need to commit to a plan, follow up with action, then have the resilience to stick with it to the end.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

My well-used, dog-eared copy of Henriette Anne Klauser’s book, Write It Down and Make It Happen, is a great reminder that keeping your goals in your head won’t make them happen. You have to write them down. When you do this, you create a major shift and suddenly it makes you feel you are halfway there. So, write your goals down and make them happen.

ABANDON NEGATIVE SELF-TALK

This one saps every energy out of you. When you regularly engage in negative self-talks, or surround yourself with negative people, you are setting the stage for these negative behaviours to coalesce and hold you back from achieving your goals. Let go of negativity in all its forms and embrace positive, confidence-boosting self-talk.

REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS

It’s always a good idea to review your progress. Spend at least 10 minutes each day checking to see where you are. This ensures you are still on track, and demonstrates your commitment to the process. To keep you motivated, reward yourself for each milestone reached. These rewards don’t have to be big, but enough to encourage you to carry on.

THINK BIG!

It is often said that one of the mistakes we make in setting goals is not thinking big enough, but big goals generate excitement and passion. They might make you feel uncomfortable, but that’s OK. Don’t settle for goals that are too easy to reach. Strive for the ones that will stretch you beyond your comfort zone. If they appear too challenging, break them into small, manageable steps, but don’t give up, think big.

You now have some additional tips to help you set SMART goals in 2016. Take the process one step further by sharing your goals with a circle of people who want to see you succeed; those who will encourage and inspire you when the going gets tough. Commit to your plan and become your own success story in 2016. Happy New Year!

About Daisy

I am Daisy Wright, an award winning certified career management and interview coach, author, and certified resume strategist. I collaborate with executives, managers, and mid-career professionals in all aspects of their career and job search to help them get hired FASTER! I am the Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of The Wright Career Solution and quite passionate about diversity and inclusion and women's issues.

Website: www.thewrightcareer.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/daisywright
Twitter: @CareerTips2Go