It’s hard to believe that we’re nearing the last quarter of 2021. Next month’s arrival of Fall always seems to signal a speeding up of time for me for the remainder of the calendar year. Is it just me, or does that happen for you as well?

Did you set personal or professional goals that you are still hoping to achieve this year? If you need a nudge to help you move them toward the finish line, we are here to help!

Setting goals with intention and accountability

In January, we wrote about setting goals with intention and accountability. That post highlighted three key strategies to help you move your goals forward:

1. Know your why. Once you’ve settled on your one goal, think hard about why you want to achieve that goal – typically that is your motivation for moving forward.
2. Create an action plan. Breaking your plan down into specific steps takes away the overwhelm of a big or longer-term goal. Taking just the first step can initiate momentum to stick with the rest of the plan.
3. Embrace accountability. Share your goal. When we commit to something publicly, we are much more likely to follow through because someone may ask us about our progress or success.

Make your goals SMART

Good intentions are not enough to make changes. You’re more likely to achieve goals if you break them down into measurable chunks. When you look at any goals you set but have not yet accomplished in 2021, make sure they are SMART goals. Setting “SMART” goals is a great technique for creating goals that give you the best chance of success. Here we explain and give examples of SMART goals.

• Specific:  Your goals should be as specific and detailed as possible. Include numbers, quantities, qualities, detailed description. All make the goal more “real”.
• Measurable:  Write down your goal so it can be measured and tracked. Quantities, percentages, or other units of measure will help you monitor your progress, track your results and know if you’ve really achieved your desired results. Additionally, you’ll know when you’ve hit certain milestones and can celebrate wins along the way to the finish line, which can help sustain motivation.
• Attainable:  If you set a challenging goal, break it down into smaller pieces to realize and celebrate success more often. Make sure its attainable for you, not for anyone else in your life.
• Really desired:  We’re more likely to be motivated to take action on goals when we’re really invested in the end result. Make sure you’re working towards something you really want, not just something you think you “should” do or want. Or that someone else wants you to do. Have a compelling “why”.
• Time Sensitive:  Give yourself a deadline…don’t fall prey to “I’d like to do this someday.”  Use start and end dates. When I’m consulting with or coaching clients and they tell me they’re going to take action, I’m know for asking “by when?” It works.

What’s next?

If you haven’t done so already, take a little time to reflect. What 2021 goals have you set out to achieve that are still in progress? Which did you complete? What have you not yet started, but still want to accomplish? Are you on track?

Moving your 2021 goals across the finish line

There is still plenty of time to regroup, refocus and prioritize what you hope to achieve before the end of the year! 

Do you need help starting or moving forward with your professional or personal goals? Simply Placed would love to be a resource to you! Schedule a no-cost, no-risk Discovery Call to explore how we can help you to reach them! Imagine how you’ll feel when you crush your goals for the year!