Blog: Off Target with your 2014 Goals?

It’s hard believe we are past the half-year mark for 2014.  Have you pulled out your goals and reviewed your progress?  How are you doing?   If you are in the majority, you probably are not doing so well.  Why? There may be a few reasons:

• Setting goals has become just an empty ritual. We take last year’s goal and “tweak” it.  Often there is not much thought put into creating the goal and not much thought given to it afterwards.
• No one is really checking in, holding you or others accountable.
• There are too many barriers – not enough resources.
• Priorities are constantly changing.

As leaders, if we do not make reaching goals a priority, no one will. Setting and achieving goals needs to be part of regular conversations and expectations. Want some help to get things moving again? Let’s start by analyzing the goals that were set many months ago. 1.  Are these real goals?  Apply the SMART formula to them:

• Are they specific? Significant? Stretching? Focused?
• Does each of them have a specific metric that you have applied?  How far off the mark are you?  This shouldn’t be a guessing game.
• Are the goals attainable?  Goals must stretch us and they need to be attainable. Were you over-reaching? If not, who is responsible for the lack of achievement? Have you been holding yourself and others accountable?
• Are the goals realistic? Relevant?  Do they align with the mission and vision? Does everyone consider them real goals?
• What are the time constraints?  Have deadlines been set?  Were there milestones established and published?  Have you and others met all the deadlines?  Why not?  What got in your way?

2.  Once you have completed the SMART formula, consider these questions:

• Do you have the right goals for the mission and vision of your organization?  Are there more important specific goals that need to be introduced?
• Which of the goals are truly attainable and relevant?   Which goals must be reached?
•  Are your metrics appropriate?  Are you tracking the right things?  Are others tracking progress?
• What barriers need to be removed?

3.  Pick the top 3-4 “must reach” goals. Schedule time with your team and stress the importance of this “2014 Goals Check-In” meeting. Send out an agenda days in advance. The agenda should include:

• Vision and Mission discussion.  (Note: the vision and mission answers “Why we do we what we do.”)
• 2014 Goals – Where are we? What do we need celebrate? What do we need to talk about?
• Focus for the remainder of 2014. New goals, more focused goals.
• Setting the plan
  • The SMART formula is applied to every goal
  • Barriers are identified and a strategy is created to deal with the barriers
  • Bi-weekly check-ins are scheduled to discuss each goal and progress (no exceptions)
  • Celebrate each milestone achieved
  • Reward appropriately

You still have time to achieve the “must-have” goals. Stick to your plan. Hold yourself and others accountable.  Be sure to celebrate along the way.  The reward of hitting your target will be long lasting and gratifying! Also, as you look to 2015 in your Fall Planning activities, MSBCoach would be happy to help facilitate meaningful and productive planning and team building sessions.  Contact us at to discuss a customized approach for your organization.