Be visionary to make your New Year goals work

Implementing your business goals for the new year can be challenging. Shivani Gupta explains her five step process to lasting success.

Have you made some New Year resolutions about being a better manager, leader, parent, lover, partner or friend? You may be putting your feet under the desk for the first time this year and have started to list some goals for 2014.

Before you start making or implementing those goals it is worth thinking about whether you have your the big picture right. Goals are great but if they aren’t helping the big picture or if the big picture is a bit off the mark, then you have wasted precious time and energy.

If you already have a team or personal vision or mission statement it is still worth checking whether it is still relevant. Are your eyes glazing over at the talk of visions and missions? Do not despair. I have a fun, simple, time effective and useful tool that can help put you in your “big picture”.

Create a vision board and some lasting, effective goals with this five step process.

Step 1. Get into a good headspace without distractions. Allocate up to an hour.

Step 2: Draw, cut out or cut and paste pictures (if you want to do it online) of the things you would love to have happen in your business or personal life in 2014. Don’t be too regimented or think too hard. Let the ideas flow. A vision should be inspirational, stand the test of time and express your passion. Think BIG and look ahead! The vision board will help you articulate your dreams and hopes. It will show you what you are truly passionate about wanting to achieve. (Read my previous blog. if you are struggling to unlock your passion.)

Step 3: Check. Does the board reflect your beliefs and values or those of your staff? Is it practical and achievable? Ideally you will now be able to write the vision into a short sentence that focuses on or summarises the pictures.

Step 4: Now with your vision sorted you can go on to your goals. Most people fail to achieve their new year goals for two reasons.

1. They have too many goals.
2. They do not make their goals SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

Step 5: Write your vision and your goals down and put them in places where you, your staff or family can see them often. Put your vision board up too.

Diarise time now to regularly review your progress and to celebrate when you achieve those goals. It will reinforce to you and others the importance of striving to achieve them.

Happy New Year.

Shivani Guptais CEO of leadership coaching firm Passionate People.