Goal Setting
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A blogger I've been reading for a few years now (first as a magazine columnist, now as a true blogger) is Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist. I don't always agree with what she writes, but I like the way she writes.
Her blog this week was about setting and achieving goals. Knowing that this is key in our business, I thought I'd share her ideas with you, because I think she makes some good suggestions.
This is particularly relevant to me at this time as we're stating our goals -- objectives -- this month. I pretty much know what they are already, but how to articulate them and measure success against them require some thought. I also have personal goals that I need to state. I've done this before and it does help if you write it down on paper. I think it imprints the goals on your brain when you do so.
The really hard task is helping 15 other people write down their objectives for the next year. Each person does it differently and it's my task to bring greater consistency to how they state their objectives and the measurements they apply to them. For IBOs, I imagine there are similar issues with goal stating. Some will have and easier time doing their own, while others are better at helping others articulate their goals.
Ok. The REALLY really hard task after that is actually achieving your goals. Partly that's about setting achievable goals in the first place, partly it's about motivation, and partly it's about getting the support you need. Again, I think IBOs can relate.
I hope you achieve all the goals you have set for yourselves in 2008. And, if you haven't set any, congratulations! You've already accomplished your goals! ;-) What I mean to say, if you have things you want to accomplish, you should try to state them so you can track your progress. If you don't track your progress, you have no idea if you're being effective or not. If you don't know that, then you don't know if you need to change your approach, or what you need to change your approach to.
As a company, we're in the middle of a transformation because we have done the goal setting, the research, and the measurement of our tactics. We need to change and we're doing that. What do you need to change?