Spring forward at work! Be SMART about your goals.
by Debra B. Taylor

Spring is upon us, bringing days full of extended light and new possibilities after a long, hard winter. I am energized just looking at the shoots poking through the ground and waking up to the birds singing again.

It’s April and one quarter of the New Year has passed. Are you meeting your work goals for this year? What progress are you making on your New Year’s resolutions?

If this year is turning out to be your best year yet, give yourself a big pat on the back. Acknowledge what you have put into place to support your accomplishments. Plan a celebration to reward yourself. Challenge yourself to stretch even higher.

However, if the goals you set on January 1st seem like a distant memory, it’s a good time to get clarity on what is most important to achieve. Often we are stuck in place because we are setting the wrong goals or the goals feel impossible to reach.

Using the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Sweetie)—what one change would most impact your work life this year?

Perhaps it’s time to get some help to improve your time management, task delegation, networking, public speaking, or organizational skills. Often when I ask people that question, they timidly describe non-business related goals, like spending more time with family and friends, exercising, losing weight, volunteering, or having more fun. It is paradoxical that we can be more productive and effective at work when we take some time to ourselves for rest, relaxation and recharging.

Look at your annual goals again and pare them down to the few that really matter. Keep them simple rather than making a long to-do list that will never get done. Then take just 30 minutes to do some planning. Consider using the SMART formula to outline action steps to achieve each goal:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-framed

I have started scheduling some time monthly or at least quarterly to review my goals and to adjust my plan as new opportunities show up. Enlisting a partner or mentor can make your commitment happen. Visualize fast-forwarding to New Year’s Eve and picture what will be like for you to have accomplished these goals this year!.

Use the new energy of spring to get back on track!

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