Samuel Nathan Kahn is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of trying to set attainable goals. Goals are an incredibly important part of running a successful business, and they can help you take control of the direction your business is headed.
Sam Kahn runs a claims management company in Manchester, UK, and uses goals as a tool to motivate his employees and set targets to work towards.
They help give you a clear focus, and give you something to aspire to.
However if your goals aren’t attainable, it can have the opposite effect. Your employees can end up feeling unmotivated, with a lower self esteem because they can’t achieve the tasks set out.
Having a well defined, clear goal increases your chances of achieving those targets you are after.
Samuel Kahn has a few tips to help you set better goals for yourself and your business.
Setting Attainable Goals
Setting goals has been psychologically linked with higher motivation, self-esteem, self-confidence and autonomy. Research shows that there is a strong connection between goal-setting and success.
In order to achieve this positive effect, it is shown that the best goals are ones that are attainable.
There are a few key tips that can help you set more attainable goals.
- Your goals should be clearly defined, and not overly complicated
- Establish both a short-term and long-term strategy
- You want to aim high, but still be achievable
- Set goals that align with your business’ values and overall vision – you want your team to work together to achieve them
Aim For Short and Long Term
Having both short term and long term goals is a great way to make sure that you still have attainable and achievable goals, while also allowing you to plan ahead for the future.
You can have smaller weekly or monthly goals that are a bit easier to achieve. This can improve morale, and have your employees working together more frequently.
When you achieve these goals, you can feel more confident and prepared to tackle the next goal on your list.
Your longer term goals can help you stay on the right track, and make sure you don’t lose sight of what you want to achieve.
By having both, your long term goals won’t feel like they’re looming over you. Instead of dreading not completing them, you can still feel fulfilled by completing your short term goals along the way.
By using both, you are more likely to get the desired results.
Set SMART goals
SMART goals was a term created by George Doran in 1981 as a part of a management research paper.
It has become one of the most popular ways to set goals, due to its lasting effectiveness.
Using this method can help you set the best goals:
- Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
- Measurable (meaningful, motivate)
- Achievable (agreed, attainable)
- Realistic (Relevant, reasonable, resourced, results-based)
- Time bound (time-based, time limited, time-sensitive)
While this method isn’t entirely perfect, it is a great starting point for setting the best goals for your business. When you create goals, you can look at them from each of these steps to make sure that you are giving yourself the best chance of succeeding.
Sam Kahn is a big believer in goal and objective setting. He has used similar strategies in his business to reach the success he has now. Setting goals as a team can be a great way to bond, and keep everyone on the same page.
By working together to reach these goals, you can find other benefits for your business. If you want to read more of Sam Kahn’s thoughts, you can explore his blog here.