Achieve Goals By Creating Rhythm

When you’ve got a goal, writing it down is the first step to committing to it. Writingyourgoalsdown makes them real. In fact, it actually makes you 3x more likely to achieve them.

Now, if you share your goal with others, the likelihood of you achieving it grows exponentially. Sharing your goals holds you accountable.

Let me pitch you a few simple questions to think about before we move forward.

• When’s the last time you set a goal for your business?
• Are you currently on track to achieving that goal?
• What steps (if any) have you taken to get you closer to achieving it?

I’ve developed a simple process to help you set goals and move your project to the next level.

The first step is getting your team on board with the specific projects you take on. A great way to present a new project to your team is to show them the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario. This way, they know exactly what goal they’re working toward without feeling any pressure because you all understand that not succeeding won’t be the end of the world.

The next step is to open the floor up to your team for ideas and new insight. Collaboration is a great way to get everyone aligned on one goal and make the most efficient plan of attack.

From these new ideas, pin down2-3 core action steps that will get these ideas in high gear. Of course, these steps will vary from one project to another, but typically they should include the specific tasks that need to be done by each individual team member.

Next, map out how and when these tasks will be executed. Whether you’re planning for a day, week, month, or beyond, each step within a larger project needs to be scheduled, assigned, and monitored.

From those 2-3 core action steps, jot down even more detail about which tasks within those steps need to happen at every stage of the way. Each step can probably be broken down into about 5 or more tasks, each one assigned to a specific team member.

At this stage, take note of any tasks that might be recurring throughout the project. For instance, maybe there’s a meeting every month to review financials and another meeting every quarter to strategize the bigger plan.

Finally, schedule checkpoints to monitor progress both as a larger team and with smaller departments or individuals.

When everyone on your team comes together to work towards a common goal, everyone is clear on their role and responsibilities. They’re being held accountable for their own contribution and they feel valued working as an essential part of the project. When everyone knows there will be a dedicated progress check-in time, you’ll save time with sporadic roadblocks and your team will be motivated by the mini-deadlines.

Help your team help you by getting them as involved as you can!