The most successful companies are the ones that set goals and take action to achieve them. That is why setting goals for your business is important! My name is Georg Klausner, a business consultant and IT program manager, and I am going to take you through the process of how to set goals and bring clarity to your business.

What you need to do before you set new goals

Before you begin to set goals for your company there are a few things you should consider first. Where is your company now? Where do you want it to be in a year? Some companies use the SWOT analysis for goal setting, this means they pinpoint their business’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. 

What is a goal and why do you need them? A goal is the desired result of the steps you take in your business. Goals are important because they push you to take the everyday action that is needed to achieve the outcome you want.

The three types of goals

There are three types of goals: process, performance, and outcome.

Process: What are you doing and implementing in your business to achieve your goals? This is where you have the most control.

Performance: This is personal for everyone – are you doing the work that needs to be done to the best of your ability?

Outcome: What happened after you went through your process and performance goals – the outcome isn’t always controllable but when you have the other two running smoothly it will help out greatly.

You need goals in your business to send you in the right direction because without them what are you doing? Why are you doing it? When will you be ready for the next step in your business? Having goals both big and small will guide you through your business to be able to take action at the right time.

Mapping out long term and short term goals will give you clarity in your business as well as much more clear expectations of where the business is at and where it is heading. Clear goals are a helpful motivation for any business since they inspire people to keep going.

How to set goals in a ‘SMART’ way

Another way to look at goal setting is by using the SMART method: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely. Using the SMART method is an excellent way to outline your goals:

Specific: This is the who, what, when, where, and why

Measurable: Set amounts, dates, and times that you can track and measure your success

Achievable: Can this be done or has it been done

Realistic: Is this a possibility given the resources and time

Time: Give yourself a deadline to achieve your goal

Setting your goals can be a challenge for many people. That is why it is important to have a layout of how you want your goals to be. Get as specific as possible with the achievements you want and you can even set smaller goals along the way to your big successes. Once you have your goals set up and written down you will be ready for your next steps. Learning how to effectively implement these goals within your team will be easier to do if you can identify strengths and weaknesses in each department or team member. 

Giving employees goals to achieve in their own job will allow you to work on bigger goals while your team is working on everyday tasks and smaller goals. Together they all lead to the same place – success. Make sure your team members are aware of the business goals and that they are implementing the procedures for the structure you have created to achieve said goals. Break down their goals into steps that can be tracked on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and monitor daily progress. Include them in what you want to achieve and how their goals help the company move in the right direction. 

Having goals as part of your business plan will help you succeed and push you farther than if you were just winging it. If you and your business need some assistance to become even more clear I specialize in Business Consulting and can be contacted through my website here.