"If
you
aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." ~ Zig Ziglar
This popular quote motivates us to consider our goals for
2013 and how we’re going to meet them. But we also know that if we don’t set
SMART goals, then we’re less likely to accomplish them.
What is a SMART goal?
Specific – Be specific about
your goals. For example, rather than “Increase sales,” state “Increase sales of
wedding favors by $2000 by August 1, 2013.”
Measurable – Setting a
measurable goal helps you to know if you’ve met your goal and to gauge progress
throughout the year. Answer questions such as ‘How much?’ and ‘By when?’. For
example, “We will increase corporate sales by 5% ($5,000 in sales) in the 2013
calendar year.” Note that if you use a percentage, it’s a good idea to
determine the actual amount ahead of time.
Attainable – Set goals that are
both realistic and attainable. You want to stretch yourself and your team to
reach new heights, yet not set goals that seem unrealistic and therefore
discouraging to attempt.
Relevant – Choose to set goals
that are relevant to your business’s mission, vision and culture. Relevant
goals will matter to your entire team and help drive everyone forward to meet
them.
Time-bound – Give yourself a
target date. If there are multiple steps you can take throughout the year to meet
the goals, assign a target date for each step.
When making goals for your business include your staff in
the process and they will take ownership of the goals. The more ownership your
staff takes, the harder they will work to meet those goals.
Share your 2013 goals! Leave us a comment and let us know
what goals you’ve set for yourself and your business in 2013.
