Top tips for your new year’s goal setting

Tuesday December 31, 2019

Although usually the result of good intentions and a genuine desire for change, many new year’s resolutions fail to make it past January. Sound familiar? Perhaps you even hear the same resolutions cropping up each year: the friend that still wants to learn Japanese, and has wanted to do so for some time; or the relative who keeps freezing their gym membership but insists that this is their year for fitness.

Despite unsuccessful resolutions from years gone by, a new year signifies a new start. And many people will continue to mark the occasion with a list of goals to achieve over the next 12 months. Saying them out loud or writing them down makes them even more real. And friends or co-workers will often seal the deal by offering praise and saying, “That’s a good one!”

So after all the hype, the promises to oneself, the significant moment of writing them down in a fancy “Goals” notebook, why is it that, on average, 80% of new year’s resolutions fail?

Where does it all go wrong?

There are a number of factors that can stop a new year’s resolution in its tracks, other than being coined at a festive party with no real intention of follow through. A strategy or plan of action may be absent for starters. Then there’s the self-discipline required to check in on progress, and the honesty needed to review and tweak where appropriate. If it sounds like a lot of work, it’s because it is.

Get set for success

It doesn’t have to be all downhill from the first of January however. There are a few techniques you can adopt to see your new goals through to completion. Whether you have personal goals, objectives for your business, or want to support staff with successful goal setting and planning for career development, we have some ways to help.

Set SMART goals – SMART goals are not just smart. The word itself stands for five key elements of success: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. Using criteria such as this for goal setting can allow you to track and review progress or change course where necessary.

Commit to a course – Enrolling yourself or employees in a training course shows commitment and is a great way to successfully achieve new goals. Led by a professional and often providing a certificate or qualification upon completion, courses are designed to help participants build on or learn new skills in a timely manner. Modules help to breakdown wider topics into easily digestible segments and deadlines provide an antidote for procrastination.

Stay accountable – Ownership and accountability for goal completion can see dreams and ideas come to life. Without this, there is no clear path or driving force behind an idea. Teamwork, group projects and partnerships that incorporate peer review can help to foster accountability.

Ask for feedback – Whilst you may have your head down and be focussed on reaching your end goal, you could be missing some vital opportunities for improvement. Constructive feedback from a trusted source can open new doors and increase your chances of reaching your goals in good time.

Seek professional support – If you have big plans for your business in 2020 and would like to find out how harnessing the power of your people can help, give us a call. Not only do we have a range of training courses that can be modified to suit your business, but we can also advise on successful goal setting for both you and your employees.

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