Defining goals for greater efficiency: what is important to you?
// By Simone Janson
Whatever you do, you usually do because you want to achieve something. This goal forms the basis of your motivation as a motive for your actions. Sounds logical, but in practice is not so easy - because often target conflicts come in the way.
Indecision prevents efficiency
Some people are undecided in setting their goals, and are afraid to commit themselves, and thus miss out on a better opportunity, given the different options.
An antique dealer sells used furniture. A few customers are wealthy and can invest a lot of money in high quality and expensive furniture. In addition, he has many other customers, but only very cheap used furniture can buy. Of course it is possible to serve both customer groups side by side. But storage space for so many different pieces of furniture is expensive and each of the two target groups requires different advertising, which in turn costs more time and money. It would therefore be better if the trader only chose one of the two target groups in order to serve them as well as possible.
If you do not set goals
Of course, if you do not set goals, you're never on the wrong track. The antique dealer, for example, does not have to worry about having the right customers in his shop, he can simply serve all customers. But you are never on the right track. Goals serve to focus your actions on the essentials. And if the trader only chooses one target group, he has to reject some customers, but he can serve his target group with less effort much more effectively and thereby expand his clientele.
Which goals you set depends essentially on your needs. There are no right or wrong, good or bad motives. What matters is what you want: Do you want to realize yourself? Do you want to be independent? Is your goal to earn a lot of money? Or do you want recognition from others and power as a boss? In order for you to understand your wishes and needs, a personal target is an effective means. It shows you which motives play an important role and thereby shows you where your personal goals are.
Make your wishes and needs clear
The target is made up of five circles: The innermost black circle means that you are very dissatisfied. The outermost white circle means that you are very satisfied. In between there are gradations - reasonably satisfied means, for example, that you are just getting along with the situation. Around the circle you can see the six topics that are at stake in your goal. Three of them directly affect your professional life:
- Are you personally completely satisfied with your job, does it fill your job? Do you feel financially secure, is your existence secured?
- Do you feel well-recognized by others, do you exert enough influence to get what you want?
- But also private life as a balance to the stressful everyday life plays a role: Do you have the time you need for yourself, something to relax?
- Are you healthy or does the work have negative effects on your health?
- Do you have a social life, friends, acquaintances, family, partners, with whom you do something regularly?
Establish a connection
From the center of the circle, draw straight arrow lines in the direction of the respective topic - but only up to the circle that corresponds to your degree of satisfaction. It is all about your personal satisfaction. For example, if your financial situation is precarious, but you find that you have enough money, or if you do not get any recognition from others, but you do not care, you can easily pull the arrow to "very satisfied".
Conversely, if you spend five hours a day with your children, but find that you need more time for your family, Arrow just does not get past the first or second circle. Now connect all the arrowheads together - the more egg-shaped the circle is, the more goals you have to achieve the highest satisfaction in the areas of lower satisfaction. And even if your circle is all round, your goal is to maintain that satisfaction.
Motivate success
When you set goals and achieve them, this sense of achievement motivates you to set new goals again. But it is not enough to set only an abstract goal, for example: I will become a millionaire. What is important is that the goal must be conceivable, describable, and formable, and that you know what you need to do to achieve that goal. Otherwise you have no goal, only a purpose. You should therefore formulate your goals in writing, ambitious and positive, but also realistic and as concrete as possible.
This also includes scheduling the achievement of the goal: Set a realistic point in time until when you want to reach your goal or individual stages. You can then directly measure your success or know that there is still need for action.
Formulate goals as accurately as possible
Make the goals as accurate and realistic as possible. For example, if you write, "I want to make a lot of money," that is a very inaccurate formulation. How much money is "a lot of money" for you? Is that really possible and realistic that you deserve this amount? Also, consider what you need to spend on it. If you make a lot of money but at the same time want to work less than before, there is a conflict of objectives. You now have to weigh up what is more important to you. With the most precise possible formulation you solve the dilemma: "I work a bit more in the first year, until my company is more established. But then I would like to work less. "Or:" I would like to have more time for my children two hours a day and therefore less work. I'll accept the financial losses as a result. "You have already solved the conflict of objectives.
Goals are therefore something positive. But to avoid being deterred by ambitious targets, it makes sense to divide the target into several smaller stages than if you were slicing a salami. Therefore this procedure is also called salami technique. First, formulate the goal. Then consider what intermediate goals lead to this goal and what you need to do to achieve those intermediate goals. These actions then put you into action. It is important that you keep at least the next interim destination accessible.
Set written goals
It is best to work in writing again. To get a better overview, you can divide the goals into categories, such as long-term and short-term goals, daily or weekly goals, as shown in this example.
Long-term goals Measures When to reach?
- I want to earn 30.000 Euro a year while achieving a healthy balance between work and private life
- At first, I work more to convince customers of my performance
- I am making my product better known, so that it becomes a brand
... ... ... medium term goals Measures When to reach?
- I earn 15.000 Euro a year
- I invest in better technical equipment and better customer service
- I invest in advertising
... ... ... short-term goals Measures When to reach?
- I conduct promotions at the top two industry shows and advertise in major daily newspapers
- I hire two new employees for the service
... ... ...
Goals are not rigid and unchangeable
However, it would be a mistake to believe that goals are rigid and unalterable. Goals can change. For example, once you have achieved a goal, you may of course be satisfied with yourself. In the meantime, however, the world has continued to turn: you have new experiences and your needs have changed. And your customers also have different, new wishes. You should therefore review your needs and, using the method outlined above, at least once a year and redefine your goals as needed. This may mean that you set new goals but also that you modify existing goals based on experience.
Example: In the beginning, a small founder might just want to earn enough money to live. If you realize that things are going well, your financial entitlements are likely to rise. You want to earn Sum X now. With it you define a new goal out of your changed needs.
If success fails
Even if you are highly motivated and have everything, really done everything for it - sometimes the success simply does not set. After all, even if motivation, planning and optimal implementation can set the course in the right direction, luck is always part of success. The fear of failure must not prevent you from trying. However, if you find that you have not been successful in the long run, consider rethinking your goals: perhaps the goal is not feasible at this time, or not at all, simply because of the adverse circumstances in which you can not change anything. Of course, it is frustrating at first to say goodbye to a goal. But if you have gained some distance: Take the defeat sporty and not yourself too serious and put yourself a new goal.
Example: Mr. G. wants to have discovered a gap in the market after making extensive analyzes in the production of necklaces for Mexican dwarf dogs and is prepared to do everything to earn a lot of money. He makes particularly exclusive and very...
