Navigating Success Through Goal Setting and Workshopping
What are Goals?
Setting goals is the cornerstone of success. Goals empower us to envision our future before it unfolds, paving the way for personal and professional transformation. If you're here, you've likely ventured into the realm of goal-setting, but the real question is, are your goals structured effectively? Will they truly propel your life and business in the desired direction?
As a founder or GTM executive immersed in this blog, you likely find yourself deeply engaged in strategic planning, headcount considerations, and establishing KPIs for the upcoming year. In the throes of strategic planning, it's crucial to bring everyone in the business along for the journey. This ensures clarity about your business strategy, revenue strategy, and the ability to execute at the department level. Simultaneously, it guarantees that employees' personal goals align with the overarching business objectives.
So, how do we navigate this journey? Let’s dive into Goal Setting and Workshopping.
Start with a Workshop for Goal Setting, both at the management and department levels.
Why is this important to do?
Research indicates that 98% of entrepreneurs never achieve their goals. While multiple factors contribute to business failure, the heart of the matter is that most companies fall short of their goals. Hosting a Goal Workshop across your company can foster success and avert this harsh reality.
Here’s how to approach your goal-setting workshop:
Step #1: Bring everyone together in a conference room or virtual Zoom meeting for an hour of Goal Workshopping.
Add a touch of ambiance – play music, provide breakfast (if in person), and infuse character as you see fit! Remember, the more spirited you make it, the more your employees will associate meeting business objectives with a joyful memory, closely linked to their personal goals.
Step #2: Launch the meeting by outlining company goals for 2024, revenue targets, and specific area objectives.
Step #3: Put pen to paper – write down your goals. Ask each team member to articulate their goals.
Identify Your Goals: What do you want?
Identify Your Purpose: Why do you want to achieve this goal? What will it bring you?
Encourage them to think about goals as a funnel:
Lifetime goals
2-3 year goals
One-year goals
Quarterly period goals
Each goal should contribute to the overall company objectives, thereby aiding individuals in achieving their lifetime, yearly, and quarterly goals.
Step #4: Employ a framework for goal writing, such as S.M.A.R.T.
Encourage your team to turn aspirations into concrete plans. This screenshot showcases a structured approach, guiding individuals to detail their dreams, goals, values, action plans, and daily activities.
I recommend Darren Hardy’s Goal Worksheet or Peter Drucker’s Management by Objectives SMART goals. A S.M.A.R.T. goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
Make your goal detailed and SPECIFIC
Make your goal MEASURABLE
Make your goal ATTAINABLE
Make your goal RELEVANT
Make your goal TIMELY
Helpful tips:
Tip #1: Avoid vagueness and using phrases like “improve” or “get better at”. Be specific about what you’re improving and always include measurable benchmarks or key performance indicators (KPIs/Quotas).
Tip #2: Steer clear of setting irrelevant or unattainable goals. Aim for small, bite-sized goals. Avoid extremes so that you can grow without becoming discouraged.
Step #5: Transform Goal Workshopping into a collaborative process.
As individuals complete the exercise, initiate a round of sharing in the room (in-person or virtual). Ask for volunteers willing to share a goal.
Example of career-based goal:
“Win five new clients who spend at least $2K per month for the next six months. To achieve this, I will meet with 20 new prospects per month and send out a minimum of 15 new proposals per month.”
Remember, “A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement.” — Bo Bennett.
Best of luck with Goal Setting, and we hope you find this workshop framework invaluable!