THE beginning of a new year is always a good time to set some goals. But what goals should be set and how does somebody set them?
Dynamic Improvements managing director Graeme Alford said the procedure was fairly simple.
“Firstly you need to look at it as a whole package. Don’t just set goals for your professional life or for your personal life. You need to set goals for both,” he said.
“You need to look at goals in terms of a time frame.
“Set short-term goals out to six months, medium-term goals out to two to three years and long-term goals.
“The short-term goals need to be fairly specific. The medium and longer-term goals are usually a little bit less specific.
“For example, someone’s short-term business goal may be to increase sales by 10 per cent per month within the next six months.
“A long-term goal, for example, may be to be in a management position by June 2005.
“On the personal side their long-term goal may be to improve their personal well-being.
“The short-term goal would be to lose 10 kilograms through modifying diet and exercising three times a week.”
Mr Alford said that the shorter term goals should help support the long-term goals.
“For example, if the person’s long-term goal is to be in a management position, the medium-term goal may be to complete a Masters of Business Administration degree and the short-term goal will be something like going to class on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to achieve that,” he said.
“Of course, when you set goals you sometimes have to forgo things. Say for instance the person played cards with his friends on Tuesday nights. He would have to give that up to go to his MBA class to satisfy his short-term goal.”
