Goal Setting: Lessons from Corporate America

Hey!  How’s everyone’s Monday so far?  Mine was good – went to work, blah, blah, blah… LOL!  I’ve been working on a goals audit at work right now to ensure that a sample of our population has well-written and meaningful goals.  As I was auditing today, I got to thinking about how some of the do’s and don’ts of goal setting in corporate America apply to goal creation outside of work and in our personal lives.  I know I’m not the only one that sets out with some pretty lofty goals on January 1st!  It’s ok, y’all can admit it too!  Well, I’m hoping that some of these tips will help you create more attainable and manageable goals in the future.  Let me know what you think!

DO:

• Seek to understand how your goals fit in to the larger picture. It’s important to set both short-term and long-term goals to keep you focused and on track.
• Write your goals in results based language, rather than activity based language.  For example, a goal that begins with “participate in” should be followed by “so that” or “in order to.”  This way you are describing the ultimate objective or benefit of that goal.
• Focus on quality vs. quantity.  Consider a reasonable set of goals.  You don’t have to conquer the world…it’s ok!
• Try to articulate what success will look like.  What will improve and how will you notice a positive change?

DON’T

• Create a list of activities.  Remember, you want your goals to reflect something special you’re trying to accomplish for a given time period.
• Create goals you have little control over.  Try to focus on the things that are in your direct control.
• Limit yourself by steering away from goals that seem challenging or aggressive.  If needed, get some help or call in some cheerleaders to help you attain what you set out to do.
• Assume you can’t make a difference because YOU CAN!  One person, when he or she sets his or her heart and mind to something, can accomplish a lot – sometimes more than what a team or group can.

Another strategy that my company stresses is setting S.M.A.R.T goals. 

• Specific – What are you looking to accomplish?  What does the finished outcome look like?
• Measurable – How will you know that you accomplished your goal?
• Achievable – Do you have the commitment and resources necessary to accomplish the goal?
• Results-Oriented – What are you doing this?  What is the purpose?
• Time-bound – When will you accomplish your goal? 

I hope that the next time you set out to create some goals, you find these tips helpful!

Before I sign out for the night, I want to share some pictures of my recent eats.  I’ve been doing well with the one person meals recently. 🙂

This next meal (tonight’s dinner) requires a little explanation.  I’m heading home to Atlanta for a few days on Wednesday :), so I’m currently trying to use up the perishable items in my refrigerator.  When I got home today, I found tortillas, cheese (Mexican mix and goat cheese), a tomato, an avocado, some spinach, half a yellow squash, veggie bacon, and salsa waiting for me in the fridge.  What’s a girl to do?!  This girl decided to make a very filling quesadilla with a side of avocado and salsa. 

How do you go about setting goals – are you more of an ad hoc person or more of a planner?

What are your favorite quesadilla stuffers?

Have a great night!  I’m off to enjoy the season premier of Dancing with the Stars!  🙂