The New Year brings with it promise, hope and often a certain degree of resolve. We constantly aspire to be better, work harder and strive for more every New Year.
According to a PLoS ONE report, approach-oriented goals are far more successful than avoidance-oriented goals. The SMART approach, i.e., specific, measurable, accepted, realistic, and time-framed goals help you stick to your resolutions and sees greater success over a long period as compared to resolutions that are arbitrarily formulated.
Why New Year’s resolutions?
Resolutions don’t see times or dates. They can be made at anytime, anywhere and can be what you decide to make it.
A New Year’s resolution, however, is the proverbial “reset button”. It offers a fresh start, increasing your self-efficacy, and giving you a semblance of control over your life.
A New Year resolution to follow through with your decisions, will help you plan for it, keep you accountable and work towards bringing this goal to fruition.
Your personal growth checklist
Your goals may stem from current or long-term stumbling blocks that you foresee holding you back. Here are a few suggestions for a checklist that can help you create SMART goals for yourself:
1. Reflection and Introspection. Taking the time out to reflect on your accomplishments and challenges of the past year will help you set new goals for the coming year. What was your crowning achievement this past year? What would you do differently now?
2. Set small, achievable goals that come with a time frame. Make a list of goals for every aspect of your life. Be it relationships, work, finance or recreation, every time a box has been ticked the sense of achievement will push you to form new, bigger goals. It can be short-term goals (e.g., exercising twice a week) or long-term goals (e.g., starting your own business).
3. Identify your obstacles. Then chart a plan to overcome them. No matter how well-intentioned it starts, there can be certain hurdles that prevent us from excelling. By identifying them and coming up with a plan to overcome them, we increase our chances of success.
4. Take on new challenges or learn something new. Stepping outside your comfort zone to try new things opens up your window to growth and development.
5. Prioritize your health. Be it mental or physical, your overall well-being will affect your ability to achieve your goals. Self-care, journaling, regular exercise, stress management and recreation are priorities one cannot neglect.
6. Seek support when needed. Guidance to achieve your goals and timely help will assist your timeline.
7. Review and update your goals. Regularly reviewing your goals will help you track your progress. Check in with yourself regularly and adjust these goals if needed.
Your corporate checklist
SMART goals apply to your businesses as well. Based on the current business situation, every challenge and opportunity, needs to be taken into consideration for the next year. Here’s what your corporate checklist should entail:
1. Plan: A comprehensive business plan will help you outline your goals effectively. New strategies, tactics and their implementation need preparation, well in advance.
2. Network: Networking is key to any and every business and sometimes the best networking happens in the most unexpected places. A co-working space like CoWrks where you can meet new people from different industries is a great place to start.
3. Budget: Create budgets that outline your resource allocation. With new facilities available, several costs can be streamlined to reduce overheads. Furnished office spaces, co-working spaces with facilities like meeting rooms along with an adaptable schedule that lets you opt for flexible workspaces is one of many such examples to ensure efficient resource management when it comes to your business.
4. Identify KPIs: Identifying your key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential to keep a track of your business progress and ensure accountability.
5. Recognize: Recognize good talent and surround yourself with a strong team of employees and partners who are as committed to your business as you are. It’ll make the difference between a good and a great company.
Conclusion:
Your growth and development are ongoing processes. There will constantly be challenges to your productivity and progress but it is important to stay committed to your goals and constantly work towards them. A checklist created with the SMART approach will enable you to achieve your goals and guarantee 2023 to be a productive and profitable year. So here’s wishing you a rewarding start and a successful year ahead. Happy 2023!
