How to write and maintain goals to be successful in the workplace
In Part four of this series, we will discuss the “R” of SMART goals, which is Realistic and why having realistic goals are import to your success.
Creating goals that are realistic seems to make common sense, however without careful consideration it is easy to make goals either too hard or too easy to reach. Creating goals that are realistic should be based on prior data or research that would indicate that one has the ability to reach the goal. Perhaps the best way to determine if a goal is realistic is to refer to the previous year’s goal and increase or decrease the desired outcome. It will be important for both the employee and manager to agree on the goal and whether or not it is realistic.
Bad Example:
You own an online cupcake company that traditionally sells 3 dozen cupcakes per day, based on this history you decide to create a goal of selling 100 dozen cupcakes per day. Without a significant change in manufacturing and marketing it would not be possible to hit that goal. Although stretch goals are important to grow and help one reach heights they may not have reached otherwise, the stretch needs to be within reason as well. If it is clear that you will never reach the goal, then you will lose hope and possibly not even hit a more realist goal and then fail altogether.
Good Example:
You own a small candy store at the mall and traditionally do $400 in sales per day. Based on the traditional sales you create a goal of $500 in sales per day. This goal is more realist and more reachable, thus ensuring that the goal will be reached with a little hard work and additional marketing.
By creating goals that are reachable, this will enable you and your team to reach the goals. Although stretch goals are import at times for growth, goals must me reachable and realistic. Realistic goals will not only keep you on track for success but will also keep you from getting discouraged and losing momentum.
In the last part of the series, we will look at the “T” or time-based and how having time constraints tied to your goals will help you not only measure they goal, but will give you a review period to reevaluate the goal.