Home | Job Search | Career Strategies |Employment | Resumes | Communication |Write |Successful Women | Business | Home Business | Entrepreneur |Loan - Credit | Web | Network | Balance |International| Book Store
Megan Tough
It sounds simple enough, but the research clearly shows that most small businesses don't set goals - at all. The goal setting process can seem daunting if it's unfamiliar territory, or if you have so much on your mind that you don't know where to start. This process will help you to sort through your key issues create forwards by setting goals that are innovative, resolve problems and improve results.
A goal-centred management system has 3 elements:
1. The goal or the objective you want to achieve
2. The activities required to achieve the goals, and
3. The review or evaluation process.
Here are the 5 steps required to put your goal management system in place.
1. Identifying your Goals
Start by asking yourself these three questions. If you have employees, often they have a different view about issues in the business. Including them in this process can be really valuable.
? What are the three things that irritate me the most about my business right now?
? What have I been putting off, that I know will have a positive impact on my business?
? What is working pretty well, but could be improved?
It might help you to think in terms of some common categories such as:
Employees: skill levels, right people in right jobs
Managers: management style, experience
Customers: strength of customer base, number, loyalty etc
Financial: cash flow, capital, low debt, profit margins etc
Reputation: well-known brand, well regarded
Products/Services: leading edge, innovative, short time to market, no competition, price
Environment: flexible work practices, physical working environment, location
Technology: automated, streamlined, productive
Production: capacity, product range
Distribution: low cost, efficient
Sales/Marketing: promotion strategy, marketing materials etc
2. Write down what you want to achieve for each identified goal
With your answers to the questions, actually write down how each thing would look at it's most successful. Goals should be in writing, in measurable terms and have specific timelines.
For example, if you had chosen technology, your goal might be ”to implement an integrated and automated contact management system by April 30th that takes away most of the manual work I do now.”
3. Break goals into measurable steps
For each goal that you've articulated, break it down into the steps you need to do. You must include timeframes for each step.
In our example, the steps might be:
? Researching available contact management systems - by 31 Jan
? Analyse each one along cost, technology implications, ease of learning - by 29 Feb
? Decide and purchase - March
? Implement system - April 5th
? Test and undergo training - by 30 April
Ensure that all the people impacted by a goal fully participate in the crafting of the goal and the action plans.
4. Allocate people to do the actions
Be clear about who is responsible for what activity.
5. Create a fail-safe tracking method to monitor success
This is absolutely essential. Without it, the business will simply continue to react rather than choose it's own direction. There are many different ways of monitoring. A simple method is to come together once per week and check where each current activity is at. You also get the opportunity to remove obstacles and plan any additional activity. If you work solo, schedule time in your diary each week to track your progress.
This process of constant review and resetting action steps based on actual progress is the hallmark of having a goal centred management system. A simple goal setting process leaves out this vital step.
So make the time and set your business up for success. Invest a few hours each week in careful planning and consideration, and see your business reach it's true potential.
Word Tip - Changing the default formatting and font
Do you prefer to type in a different font and size to the default style that you start out with when you open a new document in Word?
Well changing your default font couldn't be simpler. Here's how:
• Go to the Format menu and choose Font.
• Select your preferred font in the Font box, and select your preferred size in the Size box.
• When you're done, choose the Default button.
• Click Yes, you would like to change the default font for the current template.
Aim high, and if you only get half way there, that's still further than you would have got if you had done nothing! And if you need help in working out what to do, hire a coach or someone else to support you in stretching yourself out of your comfort zone.
Article Source :
http://www.bestmanagementarticles.com
http://business-management.bestmanagementarticles.com
About the Author :
Megan Tough is director of complete potential, a leadership and HR consultancy based in Sydney, Australia. At complete potential we understand people - what engages them, what encourages them to perform, and what drives them away. With over 20 years experience working on HR issues in business, o
Home
|
Job Search | Career
Strategies |Employment | Resumes | Communication |Write |Successful Women | Business | Home Business | Entrepreneur
|Loan - Credit | Web | Network | Balance |International| Book Store
About Us | Advertising Info| Content, Reprints | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Copyright
© Advancing Women (TM), 1996-2006
For
questions or comment regarding content, please contact publisher@advancingwomen.com.
For technical questions or comment regarding this site, please contact
webmaster@advancingwomen.com.
Duplication without express written consent is prohibited
