Wow! Can you believe it? We have already completed the first quarter of 2024! It seems like just a few short weeks ago, we were celebrating the new year, but so much has happened since January 1 and we are swiftly moving through the year. Since the Enhanced DNA word for the year is "ACHIEVE", maybe it's time to assess what we have achieved and continue working on our goals to continue on the road to a successful year.
How far along are you in reaching your goals, and what direction are you headed in? Let's take a look at some tips on how to continue achieving your goals.
Create a 30/60/90 Day Plan: Break your goal in time-based sections and outline what you will do for each section. If you review each quarter, you have a greater chance of achieving and excelling with each goal.
Get an accountability partner or group: Find people, groups, or systems that will help you stay accountable to your goals. I love my accountability group. We call ourselves the “Powerpreneurs”! Each of us has a “superpower” or area of expertise and we help each other through challenges and support each other when everything is going well.
Assess: It’s okay to assess and even pivot to change your goals especially if what you are doing no longer aligns with your purpose.
In order to effectively identify your goals and ensure you are working toward the right type of goals, I like to use the SMAART GOAL process. Hmmm. I'm sure you have heard of SMART GOALS, but I have added an extra A for Accountable. Let's review.
SMAART goals should be:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
A – Accountable
R – Realistic
T – Timely
1. SPECIFIC
In order for a goal to be effectively met, it must be specific – clearly defined and narrowed down to a point where it is able to be accomplished. To set specific goals, you can answer the following questions:
*Who: Who is involved?
*What: What do I want to accomplish?
*When: Establish a time frame.
*Where: Identify a location.
*Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.
2. MEASURABLE
You must be able to put metrics around your goals – make it quantifiable so that the goal doesn’t get lost. I prefer to “chunk” my goals into smaller pieces with shorter timelines and measurements. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience “intermittent reinforcement” of the ability to reach a goal.
To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as……
By when?
How much?
How many?
How will I know when it is accomplished?
3. ATTAINABLE
It is very important to set goals and measurements that are attainable – able to be achieved. If you set unrealistic goals, you will get discouraged and drop the goal. You can attain most any goal you set when you make a plan and establish a realistic timeframe that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become more attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them.
4. REALISTIC
To be realistic, you have to have a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected. You have to be willing and able to get the work done. You have to be true to yourself about what you are willing to do to accomplish that goal – you are the only one who can determine how much or how high your goal should be.
5. TIMELY
Your goals should be time bound. With no timeframe associated with your goals, you may not have the sense of urgency to complete the goal and you may never complete the goal – it becomes an ongoing project. If you continue to miss the timeframe set, reevaluate the goal to make sure that you “chunked” it appropriately. Break it down and reset your expectations.
6. ACCOUNTABLE
None of the other steps matter if you don’t hold yourself accountable! Doing what is required and expected to complete your goals is only important if you recognize the successes and the failures. If your goals are met, celebrate them and if they are not met, call yourself out and regroup! Identify barriers to completing the goal and map out a new plan – chunking the goals, identifying new goals, different metrics or even changing the timeframe if needed.
Let’s make the second quarter of 2024 the point in time to assess, modify and even pivot toward the right goals for the year. Develop your list and then prioritize. Once a goal is completed, mark it off and add another, one at a time – then you can assess to determine if you are still working on the right goals with the right priorities. With this process, you should be ready to achieve all of your goals in 2024.
Denola M. Burton is the Founder and CEO of Enhanced DNA: Develop Nurture Achieve, LLC and Enhanced DNA Publishing. Through Enhanced DNA, Denola develops and nurtures individuals and organizations to achieve their Leadership, Communication and Performance goals and objectives. Denola is also an author and publisher and through Enhanced DNA Publishing, assists new and newer authors in publishing their books according to the standards of the Independent Book Publisher's Association (IBPA). Denola retired from Eli Lilly and Company after 27 years where the majority of her career was focused on Employee Relations/Human Resources. Interested in becoming an author? Check out Denola' s award-winning book, Enhancing Your Author DNA: Step-by-Step Publishing Guide.
You can connect with Denola on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIN Enhanced DNA or send a message to DenolaBurton@EnhancedDNA1.com.
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