Introduction

We often get asked how (and why) the team set and keep track of individual goals. These aren’t the goals of the business (we’ve talked about the structure of this including setting OKR’s here), rather goals of the individual.

So let’s take a quick look at our process at Growthwise, including why we think this is important.

Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination

Why Individual Goals?

Firstly, we are a people business. As much as we love automation and taking away any boring tasks a computer can do, at the heart of everything we do is our team, our people. As leaders, Alan and I believe it’s our responsibility to help nurture our team and provide them with the tools and support they need to succeed, not only at work, but also in general life.

Setting goals helps focus your time and energy on what you want to achieve. It gives you a sense of direction and helps you to stay motivated. Without goals it is easy to get sidetracked and waste time on things that are not important or that do not help you move forward. When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, it is easier to stay focused and motivated, even when faced with challenges or setbacks.

In a work environment context this ensures we can help match the type of work each person does, or the types of people they want to work with or the learning path they want to take to their individual goals.

Our process of goal setting with each person in the team is not just about work. We encourage the team to use this process in all facets of their life. Ultimately, setting goals is an essential part of our commitment to helping our team members grow and succeed.

This process isn’t just our team, but for us personally as well.

Our Process

I’ve personally been using the MiGOALS Goal Digger Planners for the past few years. I find the structure of the book (yes it’s a book) to tick all the boxes for setting those longer term goals, as well as breaking them down into manageable weekly goals.

A few years ago we started purchasing one of these books for everyone in the Growthwise team. On one of the last days of work for the year we have what we call our ‘goal session’ day. It generally starts with some icebreaker questions, then focuses on a few of the key sections in the book. We’ve included the agenda as well as some of the hilarious answers below.

The aim of the day is to get those creative juices flowing, to talk through the wins of the previous year and to set a few goals to share with the rest of the team. We then pick ‘accountability’ partners who can help us stay on track. The team then go away and complete the rest of the book at their own pace.

The main aim of these goals is to ensure they are measurable, and that there is an actual plan of attack (actions to take, milestones to meet) for each of these goals. The goals should be based on what you are passionate about, with a clear reason as to why you want to achieve them.

It’s one thing to actually write these at the beginning of the year or quarter, it’s another to actually focus on them regularly. Hence why we encourage use of the book as it guides you through breaking these down and reflecting on your progress each month. We’ve found it better to take it one step further than that and every Wednesday afternoon we share with the team how we are tracking with these, what we’ve done this week and what we have scheduled for next week. This is a great opportunity to ask for help, but more often than not just helps keep yourself on track.

At the beginning of each month we take a picture of the goals we have each set for the month and post that in our #goals channel in Slack. This helps in encouraging each other, as well as checking in with each other how we are going. We’ve now got a ‘stretch’ club that happens at 3.30 every Thursday afternoon, a book club and many more random things popping up as well as clear and specific learning goals we can assist with.

Now of course not everyone is happy sharing all goals with each other, you might not want to share your goals with your team and your team might not want to share with you and or each other. It is important that you have someone in your accountability team who you do share these goals with. If you don’t have that person, one of the growthwise team would be glad to help.

People with written goals are 42% more likely to achieve them than people without written goals. Telling a friend increases this rate to 78%.

A fun look at our Goal Day

Here is a look at our Agenda for our Goal Planning Day with the team. We’ve included some of the fun ice breaker answers below as well.

The Start

• What would be the title of your autobiography
• What would be your superhero name
• If you had to come back as an animal what would you be

The Reflection

• What are the top 3 things you accomplished in the last 12 months
• How do you rate your performance this year in relation to your goals
• If you had a magic wand what would you change
• What are a few key lessons you learned this year

The Challenges

• What were your major challenges in the last 12 months
• What do you see as the major challenges for 2023

Your Values / Purpose

• What are your personal values for the next year
• What gets you excited (PG please!)
• What are you enjoying learning about
• How can you build the answers to the above into your 2023 plans

Your Toolkit for Success

• Who are your accountability partners
• Who is in your dream team
• What books / apps / podcasts / music inspire you
• What places / things make you happiest
• What things are you good at
• How can you build the answers to the above into your 2023 plans

Success

• What does ‘success’ look like to you
• What has to happen for 2023 to be successful

Focus on the book

• What parts of the Goal Digger book did you find most helpful
• What parts of the Goal Digger book did you struggle with the most
• How can we help each other more in 2023

Your 2023 Goals

• What are your top 3 goals for 2023
• Break these down into the first 3 actions you need to take for each goal
• Break these down into the key milestones for each goal

Now for some entertainment here are the answers to a few of the ice breaker questions

What would be the title of your autobiography

• Beau : A gingers guide to the galaxy
• Erin : Louder than life
• Hamish : Inappropriate
• Steph : Why
• Doug : my own worst enemy
• Carina : where should i live
• Niko : can we

What would be your superhero name

• Hamish : super autismo
• Niko : Mr kebabulous
• Greg : good greg (as named by the rest of the team!)
• Alan : astro boy
• Beau : primal super mega man
• Erin : volume girl
• Joseph : hairy gorilla

Closing

I’ll leave you with the opening remarks in this years Goal Digger Planner from the founder of MiGoals Adam Jelic

Welcome to 2023, a brand new year and another 365 days to fulfil your potential.

Let’s make 2023 a year you continue to put in the time and effort to make your goals become a reality. Live each day with intent and gratitude and remember if you don’t control your destiny, somebody else will.

Wishing you an amazing year full of joy, love and growth.