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Issue 00526 |
July 12 - 18, 2008 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Breaking Barriers |
GEORGE, an executive business Coach, author and speaker lives in
Arusha.
‘He who sows not in spring, shall not reap in autumn’ Goal setting has everything to do with personal planning and time schedules, essential ingredients for success in business. Planning is the gateway to success in business. If you spend 20% of your time in planning and goal setting, this will be responsible for 80% of your success. The remaining 80% of time in getting things done accounts for 20% of the success achieved. Therefore planning is second to none! We are all either planning to succeed or planning to fail – there seem to be no middle way! The obvious advantages in goal setting are numerous. However, we shall mention but a few here. Primary in this case is your ability to reach your goals more rapidly without wasting time. Your set objectives are often reached more quickly and confidently. Precious time is saved to be spent on really important tasks and objectives. This also helps you to keep track of all projects and activities whether on daily or weekly basis whichever is convenient. Added to the fact that the stress of daily life is reduced and you really have a more predictable daily routine. The most important rule in planning and goal setting is to put things in writing. This further helps in controlling your schedules as mental schedules are hard to control and easy to stray from them. Written schedules means a reduced workload for your money while a written plan has the psychological effect of indicating you to perform your work. You becomes self motivated to say the least. Indeed, planning and goal setting helps you focus on the important and most urgent tasks you have planned to do within the fixed times. Do you ever wonder how you get to read this and other columns in this newspaper on a weekly basis without the power of concentration that is gained as a result of consistent planning and goal setting? Written out plans helps in checking the results and thus tasks not yet done can be carried out. Your success in the remaining months of this year might be based on a better estimate of your time so that your needs are better established and distractions and unforeseen events are catered for. Without doubt, written schedules provide automatic documentation for the work which has been performed and a ready source of personal/corporate evaluation. Personal planning needs to be more exact and quite precise to be effective and the use of daily time schedules is very valuable. Make sure you plan each day because the day is the smallest and most manageable unit. You can always start another day a new. Understand that daily planning sets the stage for long-term planning. Let me introduce you to the LEADS methods in goal setting and scheduling on daily basis for self mobilization to reach them. Firstly, LIST the important tasks, activities and deadlines. These are jobs to be done, unfinished business, new work, deadlines, communications and most regular events. ESTIMATE the time your tasks will take. Make sure you’re not over planning, calculate time as you would of money – time is money, set time limits and eliminate unnecessary interruptions. ALLOW for buffer time in your planning by scheduling only 60% of your working hours, that is, 60% for planned activities, 20% for unexpected activities and another 20% for spontaneous events. DECIDE on your priorities by being selective on tasks while not forgetting to delegate as well. Work sometimes has to be postponed, canceled or handled in over time. Use your judgments creatively. Lastly, SCAN your scheduled tasks at the end of each day. Warning! - Repeatedly postponed tasks have to be dealt with or canceled. Welcome again to a life of winnings!
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