This new year, you have probably made a resolution or two to improve yourself personally in some way – get a promotion, get fit, and the possibilities go on. If you are like most people, a few weeks will pass, and that resolution will most likely be history.

Our focus on improving ourselves tends to stem from the desire to be in control of our own lives, sitting in the driver’s seat, and achieving successes in all our endeavours. We want to continuously improve our outcomes and overall experience in life, and continuously create better versions of ourselves.

Here are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to setting goals for your personal and professional development:

Set the right goals – Create S.M.A.R.T.E.R goals

Specific – Your goal should be direct, detailed and meaningful

Measurable – Quantify your goals by setting milestones and defining how success is measured

Attainable – Set goals that are ambitious and yet realistically achievable for you

Relevant – Your goals should align with your greater vision and life plans

Time-bound – Set clear deadlines and milestones for your goals to track your success

Evaluate – Evaluate your progress, priorities, and action plans regularly and often

Reward – Recognise your efforts and progress. Reward significant milestones and goal achievements

Pinpoint your limitations

In the pursuit of your goals, be aware of the possible limitations which you may face. Know what some of the possible obstacles are that may stand in your way, and make plans on how you can address them as part of your success strategy.

Be 1% better than yesterday

As small as it may seem, if you work on your goals and improve by just 1% every day for a year, you’ll be 37 times better than when you started. Your efforts count.

Focus on being consistent and you’ll reach your goals a lot quicker.

Overcoming setbacks

Your goals are targets. You don’t need to have a 100% success rate with them.

If you slip up, get overwhelmed, or simply fall off-track in accomplishing your goals, here are a few tips to get you back on track.

• Remember why you started
• Jump back into it and don’t give up
• Have a plan for future pitfalls
• Say ‘no’ to distractions

Focus on progress, not perfection

Principles of goal-setting

• Commitment
  Attachment to the goal and determination for accomplishment, even when faced with challenges
  
• Clarity
  How specific is your goal? Follow the S.M.A.R.T.E.R. framework to get up your goals
  
• Challenge
  Challenging goals will improve your self-satisfaction but remember to keep them attainable
  
• Complexity
  Setting goals that are overly complex will deter even the most motivated of individuals
  
• Feedback
  Feedback – including internal feedback – ensures you’re on track to reach your goals, and allows you to make adjustments to your goals or strategy if you need to. Be sure to consistently check and evaluate your goals.