Most people have probably heard of SMART goals - writing our goals so they are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timebound

and then checking that what we do works towards these goals. But I think that’s a bit boring - where’s the excitement? Where’s the motivation to complete a SMART goal?

I like my goals to be SMART and also to be WISE:

• WOW! Make sure that achieving the goal is a WOW!  You really want to do this – for you, not for anyone else.
• IMAGINE What will it be like when this goals is achieved- if you can’t imagine it, then it won’t happen.
• STEP Make sure that your goal is a step forwards. The size of step does not matter – the direction of the step does. 
• EXPECTATIONS Make sure your expectations are realistic. Expect to make mistakes, expect to go backwards sometimes. Expect and demand to move forwards.

For more information on SMART and WISE goals and how to achieve them, sign up for the ACHIEVE e-course - a short 5 step course which will help you towards your goals. Start today!

I said last time, that goal achievement matters to management as effectiveness is about working on the right things – achieving the things we’re meant to be working on and the ‘things’ are the goals.

Goal achievement can be elusive - whether that’s a business goal which requires good teamwork from your employees or a personal goal such as gaining a promotion or losing weight.

Achieving your goals can bring satisfaction and fulfilment which leads to more contentment and enhanced wellbeing. Goals give you purpose and direction and help you get more out of life.

Read the upd8 Special Report which explains the top four reasons why we don’t achieve our goals and you’ll soon be achieving more.

http://www.upd8yourlife.co.uk/srtop4.htm

I’m still surprised when I ask this question and the answer is ‘no’ – or a blank stare … you’d think I’d know by now. It seems obvious to me that if goals are written down, then it helps keep you focused and so you are more likely to achieve the goals … but then again, I also know that when we find something obvious and easy ourselves we then assume that everyone else does too.

Yes I have a list of goals – I have a very WISE list which makes me go WOW and laugh when I think about them. I also have my monthly SMART goals – and more often than not, I hit them. That means I’m progressing towards my goals and, very importantly, I know it because I can track progress. If you don’t know about WISE and SMART, you can sign up for my free 5 day mini email course – here.

But so what? Why does this matter to management? Well effectiveness is about working on the right things – achieving the things we’re meant to be working on and the ‘things’ are the goals. Some organisations have monthly deliverables (or monthly outcomes or quarterly targets, etc) – they’re all goals and if goals are being hit then we’re being effective. And that makes us great managers.

To be a more effective manager, do two things:

1. set yourself some WISE and SMART goals
2. agree SMART monthly goals with your team

Hi everyone

I’ve bowed to the pressure (you know who you are Simon!) and decided to start a blog. So now, as well as reading the newsletter you’ll be able to make comments on this blog and we can all benefit from more interactive (and 21st century at last Dawn!) news and views on management.

So, onwards…

The year’s three quarters of the way through and I wonder what your career/work goals were this time last year? And have you made any throughout 2007? And the killer question - how many of your goals have been met - or changed - or forgotten about? Christmas and New Year’s often a time when people look to making new goals. Maybe it’s the sitting around after large meals in dark evenings, nothing much to do except contemplate how different we’d like our life to be.

Why not review your goals now. If you’ve achieved what you set out - fantastic well done you - and I hope you celebrated - share your story with me. If you haven’t, then think about why, two common reasons:

• Things around us change - when circumstances change we need to review our goals and change them too if necessary. If you need to, then update your goals.
• Lack of focus - did you set a goal that didn’t inspire you? Then let it go - don’t bother with it. Or have you allowed yourself to be focussed on other things - on other peoples goals rather than your own?

Ask yourself what you are going to do differently in the next three months so that when you review your goals at the end of the year you can be proud of your achievements. And those of you sitting smiling as your goals are well on the way to being achieved - ask yourself the same question!

Need help? You all know where I am.
Need a refresher in goals? www.upd8.biz/achievem.htm