We are now into week 3 on setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. So far, we have covered Specific Goals and Measurable Goals.

Today we dive into Attainable Goals.

At first glance you might think this is a slam dunk. Or you might wonder if this is like a loaded question.

Are You a Big Thinker or a Small Thinker

You might find yourself in one of two camps: You’re a really big thinker and the sky is the limit and there are no boundaries. Or, you might tend to set really conservative goals that never really stretch you and help you reach your full potential. In reality, we are often somewhere in the middle, depending on the circumstances. If this is you, that is a good thing!

When we are talking about Attainable Goals, we are really looking for something in the middle. It is more than a “doable” goal that you could easily achieve but it is not one that you would have to make major concessions or adjustments to achieve. This is a very good time to ask yourself where this goal falls on the scale and if it is realistic. Now would be when you would start thinking about what it would actually take to make it happen. Once you know that you will know if you have a goal that is Attainable.

Managing the Big Goals

You know the old saying…..How do you eat an elephant?….. The same goes for goals. To be attainable they might have to be broken down into smaller, more manageable goals. If you set a goal to make your business a $10m business but you are currently a $1m business, you might have to ask yourself if this is a goal that can be achieved this year or if this needs to be spread out over a period of time? If you set a goal that is a bit of a stretch, then you might set sub-goals that will allow you to get there by spreading it out over a few streams of revenue or work.

Working in the Categories

Continuing to use the categories we started with as an example, let’s look at how this could apply.

• Financial
  • Goals here could include both revenue and expenses. In medium to large operations, you might choose to break these down into smaller categories to make them more manageable.
• Products and Services
  • This is definitely an area that you want to make sure that your goals are not only attainable but manageable. Too many sku’s can wreak havoc with inventory systems and cash flow, to name a few. Too many services can end up spreading you and/or your work force thin and result in loss of efficiency. Finding that sweet spot of products and services that allow you to become experts and known for is the goal here.
• Marketing and Sales
  • The same rules apply here. If you are setting these for yourself or setting them for your staff, make sure they are in reach if they are willing to work for it.
• Customer Service
  • This will be tied closely with how you are going to measure the goal as we talked about in our last blog. Customer service can be a bit more ambiguous than other goals so you want to make sure that it is clear so that it can be clear when it has been reached.
• Staffing
  • This might be an immediate goal or one that is set sometime in the future for a start-up or smaller operation. Here you will look at how the staffing will grow your business and not drain your business.

Setting Goals for Others

As a side note: setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, or any kind of goal,  for yourself is one thing. If, however, you are in a position where you are setting goals for others, say a sales team or department, this could be a critical juncture. You want to make sure that both you and the team feel these goals are attainable. Th easiest way to know that is to ask them. Having them as part of the solution and buy in will set everyone up for more likely success.

Final Note

In the end, you want goals that inspire you to be and do more than you ever thought you could. You don’t want goals that defeat you or your staff. Choose wisely.