Picture this: It's 7 PM on a Thursday night. You're still at your desk, buried under a mountain of emails, invoices, and customer inquiries. The rest of the office is empty, but you're stuck there, feeling like you're barely keeping your head above water. Sound familiar? If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. This scenario is all too common for entrepreneurs and small business owners who find themselves caught in the never-ending cycle of working in their business rather than on it.

Set Monthly Goals

When I talk with my clients about goal setting, they commonly assume that it should be done daily. Thay assume that by setting goals daily, they’ll be more focused and stay on top of things better. Imagine their surprise, then, when I tell them that their goals should be written in monthly increments, if not longer.

There’s something special about setting monthly goals that can really boost our productivity and satisfaction in the long run. Setting goals for the month ahead gives us a bigger picture view of what we want to achieve. It's like having a roadmap that guides our daily actions towards meaningful outcomes and long-term success.

Research supports the notion that incorporating monthly goals into your planning routine can lead to significant benefits. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that individuals who set monthly goals were more likely to achieve their long-term objectives compared to those who focused solely on daily tasks. This is because monthly goals provide a sense of continuity and strategic direction, helping individuals stay motivated and maintain consistency in their efforts.

Initially, daily planning might seem appealing because it focuses on managing immediate tasks and deadlines. It gives us a sense of accomplishment as we check off items from our to-do lists. However, daily planning can sometimes lead to a short-term mindset where we prioritize urgent tasks over important goals. It's like getting lost in the details and losing sight of the bigger picture.

Here are some reasons as to why you should zoom out and set longer term goals, before you zero in on the specific actions for each day.

1. Long-term vision: Monthly goals help you keep your eye on the prize. They give you a clear sense of where you want to go and what you want to accomplish over time.

2. Strategic alignment: When you set goals for the month, you're able to prioritize tasks that matter most. It’s about focusing your energy on what moves the needle towards your bigger aspirations.

3. Resource management: Efficiently using your time and resources is key to getting things done. Monthly goals help you allocate your resources wisely, ensuring you have what you need to succeed without burning out.

4. Tracking progress: Checking in on your monthly goals lets you see how far you’ve come and where you might need to adjust course. It’s like marking milestones along the way to celebrate your wins and learn from your challenges.

5. Staying motivated: Having monthly goals keeps you motivated and focused. They break down your long-term dreams into smaller, achievable steps that keep you moving forward.

6. Adapting to change: While daily plans keep you flexible day to day, monthly goals give you a sturdy framework to adapt to changes and seize new opportunities. They help you stay on track without losing sight of your ultimate goals.

In essence, while daily planning helps manage the hustle of everyday life, integrating monthly goal setting into your routine nurtures a habit of strategic thinking and planning. It empowers you to align your actions with your long-term vision, boosting your productivity and paving the way for personal and professional growth. So, why not give monthly goals a try and see how they can elevate your journey towards success?

Naphtali HoffJune 24, 2024Impactful Coaching & Consultinggoals, goal setting, smart goals, monthly, daily, productivity, focus, big pictureComment

Strategies for Leaders to Stay Focused and Avoid Disruption

In today's fast-paced world, staying focused and getting work done can feel like an uphill battle, especially with constant disruptions knocking on our doors.

Whether it's unexpected meetings, incessant emails, or the latest crisis demanding attention, maintaining productivity amidst the chaos is no easy feat.

But fear not, because in this blog post, we'll explore some effective strategies to help you avoid being constantly disrupted and actually get your work done.

Make time for those you love

SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"

DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"

SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"

DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"

SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"

DAD: "If you must know, I make $100 an hour."

SON: "Oh! (With his head down).

SON: "Daddy, may I please borrow $50?"

The father was furious.

Batching Work Saves Time

Time batching is a time management technique in which you group similar tasks together for focused work. During the allocated time, you work to complete all the tasks. If you want to get more done, with less distraction, consider batching your work.

How is this helpful?

For starters, by batching work you can do a lot of tasks that require similar processes all in one sequence. Things like responding to emails, completing forms, and doing research. The advantage is that you can get “in the zone,” build momentum, and knock off a bunch of things in short order.

If, on the other hand, you do a little of this and some of that, there is no flow, and each activity tends to take more time. This is, in part, because your brain needs to constantly reorient and focus on something new.

How to remove distractors from your workday

When people transition their attention away from an unfinished task to attend to a distraction, they lose time, and their subsequent task performance suffers. For example, if you interrupt writing an email to reply to a text message, you will need to refocus when you turn your attention back to finishing your email. That little bit of time of adjusting your focus compounds throughout the day. As we fragment our attention, fatigue and stress increases, which negatively affects performance.

So, not surprisingly, the first component of this “do it” step is to remove distractors.

Do you know what your values are?

We noted in a recent post how important our values are in helping us to make decisions. As leaders, we have many opportunities each day to choose between possible actions and reactions. Oftentimes, we tap into our core set of principles to make those selections. Though the choices that we make are typically not of the life-altering variety, we can use the example set by Sousa Mendes to decide how we will align ourselves in the event of conflict. Such selections may include:

Preserving character and integrity over the company’s bottom line.
Prioritizing the needs of an individual employee above company policy.
Maintaining a collaborative approach despite our personal agenda.

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