Start With Goals In Mind

Start Work with SMART Goals

Beginning this week, this year’s interns, summer associates and new hires will walk through office doors and begin their introduction to the world of work. The smart ones will carry with them a set of SMART goals that they have created for the next few months. A SMART goal is one that is: Specific; Measurable; Achievable: Realistic; and Time-Targeted.

Never underestimate the importance of possessing SMART goals. Some studies estimate that 90% of high performers carefully focus on time bound measurable goals. On a daily basis, they check their actual performance against their targets, which eventually propels them to greater heights. They are critical to time management success. If a task won't contribute to the attainment of a goal, it's not worthy of your time.

Goal setting is of no less import to established professionals. In fact, as we enter Q3, this week is the perfect time for every worker to assess where he or she stands against the performance goals set at the beginning of the year.

90-day Goal Setting

Recently, I cam across the following video blog posted by Tom Mendoza, president of NetApp:
http://youtu.be/rIOcQinK2bU

Mendoza describes his own 90-day goal setting process. Why 90 days? According to Mendoza, when he set six-month goals, too often, he’d procrastinate and fail to begin even tackling them until it was about 90 days out. He selected 90 days because three months give him adequate time to accomplish a particular goal, but not so much time that he wouldn’t start.

Mendoza advocates setting three personal and three professional goals every 90 days. As to the personal goals, he urges people to ask themselves, “If I did what, I would feel good about myself?” And with regards to our professional goals, we should ask, “If I did what, I could make a positive impact on business?”

All goals should be recorded, because writing them down makes them real. Personal goals need not be shared with anyone. Your purpose in accomplishing them is to make you proud of yourself. Do share your professional goals with your supervisor and others to ensure they are in line with corporate goals.

What Do You Need to Know?

During the approaching long weekend, set aside time to establish specific goals for the summer months. Then, immediately set about tackling them to ensure the best fall ever.

Related Things You Need to Know

List your work; Work your list

Professionals who maintain a running list of the commitments that they have made to others and who consciously work those lists experience less stress.  They know that they can’t do everything.  So, they focus their efforts on their most important tasks and address less important tasks when time permits. 

Managing Time with Style

To manage your time most effectively, use tools and techniques appropriate for your behavioral style preference.

Time for a Digital Diet

Limiting the amount of time you spend on email will signicantly improve your productivity. Here's why accomplishing that feat can be so difficult and some strategies that you can employ in order to succeed.

Learn More

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