How to do an Annual Review and Set Goals You Will Smash
There are just three steps you need to smash your annual goals:
Complete an annual review
Set the right goals
Keep your goals visible.
These steps are explained in more detail below.
Annual Review
Before setting goals, reflect on the current year; this reflection will inform your goal setting. Approach your review as a journalling activity; you can use pen and paper, a blank document on your computer, or dictate your responses to your mobile.
First, review your progress on any goals you set for this year.
After that, strategically review aspects of your life – consider these as your life categories. For example:
Health
Work
Friends
Community
Family
Learning
Money
Use the Ness Labs plus, minus, next method to review each life category.
Then reflect on:
your proudest accomplishments of the year and
your biggest challenges.
All of this information informs your goal setting.
Goal Setting
Now, set your goals.
Make your goals specific and realistic (but not easy – there should be some stretch). Ensure your goals are evidence-informed (the evidence being your annual review).
Try not to set too many goals - three to five is the sweet spot.
Consider setting a word of the year (or a short phrase) to remind you of your top priority.
Visibility
Visibility is essential for achieving your goals – otherwise, you will forget them. One of the best ways to keep your goals visible is through a weekly review process. Reviewing your goals weekly keeps them at the top of your mind.
If you have chosen a word of the year, there are many ways to keep it visible. For example, you could create a digital wallpaper featuring your word for your mobile devices and computer or buy a piece of jewellery and engrave it with your word.
Want More?
I’m currently creating an Annual Review and Goal Setting Blueprint. If you’d like to know when it launches (and get an early bird discount), register your interest here.
