Imagine playing a competitive game with no scoring mechanism. No way of determining a winner or loser. It’s an oxymoron and there’d be no point.
So why wouldn’t we apply this to business?
There’s a lot to be said for treating business like a game. Ultimately you want to win. Your score is some combination of more money, time, status or happiness.
Like a game, let’s assume you have a set amount of time to achieve these goals and you need to know what the evidence criteria is that will tell you you’ve got there.
These are my recommendations on how to think about goals.
Transcript
Imagine playing a competitive game with no scoring mechanism. No way of determining a winner or loser. It’s an oxymoron and there’d be no point.
So why wouldn’t we apply this to business?
My name’s Rashid Kotwal.
There’s a lot to be said for treating business like a game. Ultimately you want to win. Your score is some combination of more money, time, status or happiness.
Like a game, let’s assume you have a set amount of time to achieve these goals and you need to know what the evidence criteria is that will tell you you’ve got there.
These are my recommendations on how to think about goals.
The acrostic SMART is one way.
S stands for specific. What specifically do you want to achieve and most importantly why? Unless you have a big why driver you’re likely to falter at the first hurdle.
M is for measurable. How will you know you’re on the path and haven’t wandered off on some detour, fascinating though it may be.
R is for realistic and relevant. Is this something that can be achieved? Remember a vision should be designed to be long term, possibly more than you can achieve in one lifetime. Goals on the other hand should be like milestones. You get there and cross them off.
T is for timeframe. When exactly do you want to get this done by?
However that’s not enough.
Unless you have the right mindset. One that pulls you along when the going gets tough. That looks for ways around problems rather than going poor me, you’ll fail.
And of course you need a strategy. Setting arbitrary goals without having a way of actually achieving them is just silly and you’re fooling yourself.
And if this is a team goal, it should go without saying that the team’s culture has to be one of commitment to the result. Everyone has to pull in the same direction.
Remember, you should have long term goals and short term ones. There’s a lot to be said for quick wins to keep you motivated.
And finally, be accountable to someone else. It’s very easy to fool ourselves and make excuses as to why we didn’t do such and such. Having external accountability partner is a key to long term business success.
Which is where business coaching comes in. When working with clients we help them set their vision, determine their strategy and goals, but most important, hold them accountable.
If so you’d like our help to reach your goals, reach out to me at revealedresources.com. I know we’ll be able to help you grow your business.
Till next time, this is Rashid Kotwal.
