As we get closer to the end of the year, the main buzz is about setting goals for the new year. The challenge for many is that they set goals each year but don’t achieve them.
This year, I didn’t set goals. 2023 ended sadly with a death in the family (my elder brother) and we kicked off this year with a funeral. So goal setting was not in my mind during the season when even I would have been busy helping others set their goals.
Despite that, I’ve been able to make strides on some big items in my 3-year plan. Why? Because I no longer just set goals, I also map out a strategy for achieving the big ones over a 3-year period.
Which brings me back to the question for today: Which is better between goal setting and having a strategy?
My answer is that each is powerful on it’s own, but a strategy that is not based on SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, and Time bound) will not have a strong foundation.
Do you have a strategy for achieving the goals you set?
The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect and strategically plan for the year ahead. While many focus on goals or resolutions, it’s just as important to have a personal strategy, one that considers all aspects of your life.
How do you create a personal strategy?
Step 1: Evaluation
First, you need to evaluate how the year has been for you in all areas of your life. If you had goals for the year, base your evaluation on the goals you had set.
- Which ones did you achieve?
- Which ones were not achieved, and why?
- What other unplanned achievements did you have?
Step 2: Identify your goals for the next year
Do a brain dump and write down all the things you want to achieve. If you work with a plan for a longer period e.g. a 3 or 5 year plan, go back to your plan and pick out what to focus on next.
Next, prioritize the items in this list and pick out your top 3 goals for the next year. These are the ones you want to push forward and work on 80% of the time.
Complete your goal setting by making your goals SMART.
Most people stop their goal setting at this point. Others go a step further and break their goals down into milestones for each quarter and month. So they have markers to guide them along the way.
Step 3: Conduct a SWOT Analysis
Very few people take the next step which is to conduct a personal and professional SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Strengths and Weaknesses are internal characteristics. Strengths can be amplified or improved and weaknesses can be worked on or eliminated with a bit of work.
Opportunities and Threats are external. They are out of your control and you cannot change them. But you can take advantage of opportunities and find ways to live with or mitigate the impact of the threats.
We are used to hearing about SWOT in corporate and business settings. It’s just as powerful to conduct one at a personal level.
If you’re thinking of starting a business, you can use this template I created with tips on how to conduct a personal SWOT analysis before starting a business.
Why is it important to conduct a SWOT Analysis?
This exercise will give you clarity on where you stand today and what areas to focus on for growth.
For example, the past few years have brought unprecedented challenges.
- The pandemic disrupted lives in ways we’re still recovering from mentally, emotionally, physically, or financially.
- The subsequent economic instability, along with Kenya’s political shakeup following the 2022 elections and the ongoing struggles with the new government’s policies, have further strained many.
- We’ve felt (and are still feeling) the effects of reduced purchasing power and heightened uncertainty.
The best thing is that these shakeups have given us an example of how bad things can be and the potential threats to our well-being. This comes in handy when conducting your SWOT Analysis.
Step 4: Create your strategy
As we prepare for 2025, it’s essential to plan for various scenarios. Life is unpredictable, but having a flexible strategy can help you navigate whatever comes your way.
You have evaluated the year that’s ending, identified the goals you want to achieve the next year, completed the SWOT Analysis. It’s now time to create a strategy that brings all these together.
Looking at your goals and the SWOT, consider these three scenarios:
- Best case scenario: This is normally what we aim for when setting goals. So your best case scenario is achieving or surpassing the goals you’ve set. From the SWOT, can you see any strengths and opportunities you can leverage? Note these down and come up with ways of taking advantage of them positively.
- Most likely scenario: What are the realistic expectations based on your current situation if you give it a little bit of a push? What would you be able to achieve if there’s not much change personally and externally?
- Worst case scenario: How will you respond if things don’t go as planned? What can you do to minimize risk and failure? From the SWOT, can you identify weaknesses and threats that have the potential to impact you and your goals negatively? What will you do to ensure this does not happen, or if it happens, it does not take you down?
This step may end up with you realizing that you need to make changes to the goals you had set or reprioritize them. That’s OK. It’s better to do so now rather than dump them in the middle of the year!
Take time to complete this step and then write it out and keep it handy. Read through this writeup as you plan for each week, month, and quarter. Also come back to it when you face challenges or identify potential opportunities so that you stay focused on what matters most to you.
Over to you…
The best time to plan for the new year is when there’s still time to assess where you stand and set realistic, yet bold goals.
The best way to plan is to map out your goals, conduct a personal and professional SWOT analysis, then create a strategy for achieving your main goals in the new year and beyond.
In this article, I’ve shared my thoughts and processes for completing this kind of planning. This is what I am doing with my clients so that they too work with both goals and a strategy.
If you haven’t already, take time to set your goals, conduct a SWOT analysis, and create your strategy.
I’d also love to hear from you. Do you work with goals only, or do you also create a strategy for achieving your goals?
If you work with a strategy, how do you create it and what have been the results?
Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments.
(Image credit: Unsplash)
Do you have a strategy for achieving your goals?
Setting goals is one thing. Having a strategy for achieving your goals takes your goal achievement to the next level.
Here are 3 ways I can help with your goal setting, SWOT, and personal strategy:
➡️ Clarity Session: This is perfect if you only want clarity, direction, and a solid plan for the next year. It’s ideal if you already have goals just want to map out your next steps & create an agile plan.
➡️ Strategy Session Pack: This is discounted pack of 5 coaching sessions that are spread over 2 months. This is perfect if you’re unsure where to start or you want a deeper dive into your goals. We will brainstorm your vision for the next 3 years, create an agile 3-year plan, and map out a strategy for achieving your top 3 goals for the first 12 months of your plan. This plan is agile enough to withstand economic and political uncertainties.
➡️ Break Free, Live Your Life coaching program: This 4-month program is for you if you’re looking to go deeper, gain more clarity, and step into your bigger goals with confidence. Click here to find out more about Break Free.
