You already know the importance of setting objectives for yourself and your team.
However, if you’re like most people, you are aware that most goals you set are simply forgotten after a couple of weeks.
Why is it that some of us can set and actually realise effective goals, while others tend to waste time setting objectives that are never met?
The difference lies in setting realistic and measurable objectives, and following through to make sure that they are met.
Use the following steps to get back on track with checking things off of your to-do list.
Set Realistic Goals
Objectives are akin to New Year’s resolutions, often set but rarely carried out.
That is due to the fact that most of us create unrealistic goals for ourselves which we simply don’t have the willpower or the resources to carry out.
Whether it is learning a new software system in a matter of days before a big interview or getting a promotion within the next calendar year, many of the goals we set for ourselves are out of our control or are simply not achievable in the amount of time we have.
The trick to achieving goals is to set realistic ones in the first place.
Consider how much time you have, your past history with the creating similar goals and the probability of you being able to carry out the task to make sure there is a point to commit to an objective at all.
Break Up Objectives Into Small Parts
Individuals tend to set large goals that take a long time to come to fruition.
However, most of us like instant gratification, and after a while, we get demotivated and give up altogether.
A better strategy to actually stay on top of your objectives is breaking them up into smaller parts.
If you have a large report to do at work, break it up into daily tasks that you can stay on top of.
This can include creating an outline, gathering materials, finding images, and devoting a day to writing each chapter of the report.
When we are able to cross a task off of our to-do list, even if that task is minuscule, we provide ourselves with the motivation to keep going and achieve the final result.
Modify Goals When Needed
There are many factors we cannot control in our daily lives, and it is important to re-evaluate goals to make sure that they are still relevant and we still have the time and resources to achieve them.
Just because you haven’t completed the goal in the desired time, doesn’t mean you should abandon it; instead you need to give yourself more time to complete it.
If you notice that you’re having a hard time completing an objective, consider what is restricting you from doing so.
Is it due to a lack of free time, expertise or simply desire?
What can you change in your objective to make it easier for you to make it happen?
The more questions you ask yourself and the more effort you put into modifying goals to keep them current and relevant, the more chances you’ll give yourself to turn them into reality.
