How to Create Impactful Business Outcomes Before Year End

Enlightened Leadership Blog | How to Create Impactful Business Outcomes Before Year End | September 2024

Do you feel like traditional goal setting leads to goals more about ticking boxes than driving meaningful progress? It’s time to focus on dynamic business outcome planning for true impact.

Why Rethink Goal Setting?

Traditional goal-setting methods, including the SMART goal worksheets, can feel too rigid or detached from real-world application which can zap enthusiasm about achieving the goal. The key to successful goal setting is to ensure a framework around the outcomes you want to achieve for your business. I use an IMPACT method to drive a more energizing goal-setting process. Are you ready to try it?

Questions to Frame Your Outcome Setting
Get started by asking these critical questions about each goal:

  1. I Is it Impactful?
    Before setting a goal, consider its potential impact on your business, your being, and your community. Will achieving this goal significantly advance your mission, fuel your purpose, or improve your operations? Is it relevant? You can still be specific concerning what, who, and how. Focused impactful goals go hand in hand with your core objectives and drive meaningful change. Remember that meaningful change to you and your business is unique to you.
  2. M Is it Measurable?
    This aspect of the traditional SMART goals framework is useful. Quantifiable metrics help track progress and assess goal completion. Determine clear indicators that will signal success. One of those metrics is time. Give yourself a deadline.
  3. P Is it Pleasurable?
    Achieving your goals can be a fulfilling experience. If you enjoy the process, you will enjoy your journey towards your goal. This means you’re more likely to stay inspired and engaged. The results can be rewarding for you and your team.
  4. A Is it Achievable?
    Set realistic and attainable goals while stretching yourself to grow. This could include anything meaningful to your business. For example, launching a fresh marketing campaign, updating your product line, adding a new member to your team, achieving a certification, outsourcing work, conducting market research, or more. Identify the time, energy, financial, and professional resources needed to accomplish each goal to ensure the goal is doable (for you).
  5. C Is it Constructable?
    Go below the surface now to uncover what you need to build the outcome you envision. If you don’t have the pieces (information, research, workforce, expertise, advice, money, time, inventory, supplies, physical space) required to construct your outcome, figure out how you will obtain them within your desired period. At this point, make sure your timeline makes sense.
  6. T Is it Thoughtful?
    A thoughtful, thorough plan is a tool. Thoughtfulness involves understanding the commitment you are making and preparing to follow through. It’s essential to ensure that your goals are within reach given your resources and constraints. Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps to make them more feasible. Segment these actions into daily or weekly tasks to maintain momentum. Then create a timeline with estimated completion dates for each task to keep yourself on track (even if it’s handwritten on a piece of paper, do it).

Action Success Steps
After you’ve addressed the critical questions, develop a system for tracking progress and holding yourself accountable. Regularly review your goals and adjust your plan, as necessary. I recommend a 30-day or less window with my clients depending on the nature of the work. Schedule regular check-ins to assess your progress, address any challenges, and adapt to any changes in your business environment.

Conclusion
By focusing on impact, measurability, pleasure, achievability, constructability, and thoughtfulness, you can redesign your approach to goal setting to transform how you plan for success – one IMPACT goal at a time. Start implementing these pivotal IMPACT steps today to set your business up for a strong finish to the year.

By Jennifer Musser

Do you want more tips to boost your business? Visit JLM & Associates Consulting (jlmaconsulting.com). Sign up at the bottom of any page to join our email list.