Hello 2023.
As January comes to a close, it is time to flush out all unrealistic resolutions and make room for SMART goals. Goals can be on a health spectrum, financial, career or personal relationships. Whatever the goal, it has to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) for it to be worthwhile.
Once defined, SMART goals need to be tracked to get them to the finish line. In this blog, we offer 5 tips to help you do just that. Some tips are inspired by movies; others are borrowed from amazing people. We encourage you to adopt the ones that work best for you.
1. Seeing is Believing
This tip is borrowed from the movie Field of Dreams. The voice that spoke to Kevin Costner’s character, “if you build it, he will come!” drove him to build a baseball diamond in his field of corn. Visualizing your goal is everything. If you cannot see it, if you cannot feel it, if you cannot see yourself in it, then it won’t happen.
Whatever goal you set, it has to become part of your purpose, your lifestyle and part of your daily activities.
2. Break it Down
You cannot eat a whole burger with one bite! Every goal should be broken down into smaller tasks. No matter how small or insignificant these tasks might seem; together they contribute to the goal delivery.
Moreover, the satisfaction from completing smaller tasks will push you to do more, and as a result, keep the momentum.
3. Make it Public
You have 40% chance of completing your goal if you communicate it to people around you. The good people in your circle will ask about your progress and hold you accountable. They may even offer good suggestions and new ideas!
Communicating your goal to your network can help find additional resources necessary to complete your goal. If you ever feel stuck, use your connections, and never shy away from asking for help.
4. Maintain Positive Circles
Surround yourself with positive and successful people who lift you up. They don’t have to have similar goals to yours. They only need to be the type of people who maintain a positive outlook to life.
Positivity is a stimulus, negativity is infectious. Select your circle of friends carefully and keep the good vibe.
5. Be Flexible
When circumstances and external factors change, be agile with the change and work with it. Being rigid and sticking to a goal that is no longer valid won’t help you. Have a Growth Mindset and learn from your past mistakes. Try to look at challenges as opportunities for growth and development.
6. Optional - Get a Coach
If possible, invest in a coach. There are many options to choose from, some more affordable than others. Coaching styles also vary, so pick a coach you are most comfortable with and agree on a schedule that works for you.
Remember, a coach will never give you instructions. Their job is to help you come up with a best-fit solution to your challenges. A good coach will make sure you are comfortable with the way forward and you have full ownership of it.
Coaching is a large area. For more information on developing your own coaching skills, checkout the Coaching Skills Workshop from Awe Horizons.
Good luck with all your goals, enjoy every step of the way and stay tuned!
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