E-mail comments, suggestions, or questions to 
president@sittcom.com
and we'll practice what we teach.
Thanks,
Dr. Connie Sitterly
Certified Professional Consultant to Management

Deciding what we want may be a lifetime process, but goal-setting can speed up the process. Often the difference between setting and not setting goals is the difference between working smart and just working hard. We sometimes resist setting goals because it may be perceived as a time consuming, futile exercise, but without them, we have no direction, aimlessly "doing our best. " 

Would you begin a road trip without a map? To reach your destination in the most expedient manner possible, incorporating planning into the process will expedite reaching the destination. Here are some tips on how to set and achieve goals. 

Goals should be: 

• Realistic, challenging, requiring improvement. 

• Written - start with an action verb such as develop, decrease, reduce or save. 

• Specific - use clear and concise language to communicate. 

• Measurable - defined by specific results and target date. 

• Both qualitative and quantitative when possible. 

• Concurrent with your needs and values. 

To accelerate the goal setting process: 

1. What two or three results will make the greatest difference? What do you really, really want? 

2. Do your goals support your primary values? Whose goal is it? 

3. How will achieving each goal specifically benefit you? How will you feel upon completion? 

4. What are anticipated obstacles? 

5. Who will you share your goals with that can support and assist you? Have you discussed your goals with your manager and those who can assist or support your efforts personally and professionally? If not, why not and when? 

6. How will you reward yourself when you achieve your goal? 

What do you need to learn, who do you need to know, what do you need to do differently? 

What would you like to do or where would you like to be six months from now? year? five years? 

What's the real reason the goal is important? 

What time will I schedule today and this week to achieve my goals? 

What will you not do in order to work on your goal? 

What must you learn, do, think, or feel differently to achieve your goal? 

The most important question to ask, is "What am I doing today to achieve my goals?" Break your goals into "chunks" or tasks. One task, even as simple as making a key phone call or pulling a file makes a difference. 

To design a well-balanced, fulfilling life, set specific goals with target dates in those areas of your life social, physical, educational, professional and financial. 

Determine one activity daily that will propel you toward you goal and assign it a high priority. Make weekly, monthly, and yearly goals TODAY. 

How many New Years have we started with our best intentions to accomplish our goals, only to discover they were hugely reminiscent of last year's goals. 

So how do we get beyond the best intentions to once and for all fulfill those goals and objectives on or before time and under budget in a way that each person that interacts with us enjoys the process? Here are a few tips that to transform good intentions into results: 

1. Plan. For every hour we plan we save three to four hours. For every minute we plan we will save three or four minutes. To experience the difference, invest 10 minutes in the morning. 

2. Schedule. Determine specifically what task needs to be done, when and by whom. What materials and people are required. Whose support or authority do you need? Without the proper people and resources, accomplishment is unlikely. Prioritize tasks, focusing on what is both most important and urgent. 

3. Simplify. Focus on where the greatest return on investment of your time eliminates non-value or unnecessary tasks. Anything that reduces waste or cuts process time should be encouraged, expected and rewarded. 

4. Focus. Identify and record the specific key results that will the greatest impact or difference in specific, measurable, positive language with a deadline. 

Further break it down into objectives for the month and week, then schedule daily tasks with an estimated time for each task. 

5. Check. Build in check points or progress and share the information with those who are involved with or affected by the process. 

6. Reward. Success is usually the result of discipline, commitment, focus, and effort. Reward yourself or others who helped achieve the results and improve the process. By nature, we do what gets rewarded, so reward yourself and others. It's not just results that counts, it's the process too. 

"Work Smart or Hard-Your Choice"
by 
©Dr. Connie Sitterly 
Certified Professional Consultant to Management

Goal setting focuses on the future but requires effort today. Should your goal be to run a 50 mile marathon, you know you would have to prepare yourself both mentally and physically months before the event. So, the same goes for accomplishing personal or business goals. 

Goals must be stated in specific terms. For example: create a home Web page by June; save $30,000 next year. Vague goals such as: make more money, go back to school are too abstract. The "road map" is easier to prepare when you have a specific destination. 

Before you can set effective goals, collect the information you need through these six basic steps: 

1. Read everything. 
2. Practice what you would like to become, do or obtain. For instance, if your goal is to change careers, spend a day with someone holding the position you seek. 
3. Identify your strengths by inventorying your skills. Determine what you like and don't like to do. 
4. Talk to anyone who can give you information and attend professional meetings. 
5. Absorb the wisdom of others. Often the ones who have "been there, done that" offer realistic information and may even have a need to mentor. 
6. Rethink and reflect on your experiences, analyzing current needs- what you really want can be different than what others think you should be, do or have. 

If we have ever failed to reach a goal, (and, who hasn't) , the process may seem futile and we can feel powerless to change our future. Effective goal setters write down their goals and break them down into a simple action plan. Setting goals and developing an action plan is often the difference between working smart and just working hard. Do you know anyone who wouldn't like to increase business as well as spend more time with family and friends? It's a matter of setting goals, planning for it. 

"You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do." 
Henry Ford

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