How to Measure Progress on Your Goals
Clear goals lie at the heart of any success story. Most entrepreneurs start out with an idea, and a goal for where they want to take that idea. But as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Between starting a new project and achieving the goals you set, there are many steps along the way. Measuring your progress is an important part of this journey. Read on for advice on how to make the most of measuring your progress.
Use appropriate metrics
First of all, it’s important to establish how you will measure your goals. There are all sorts of ways to do this. Some will be more useful to you than others, and often this depends on your circumstances.
For example, let’s imagine you are trying to boost your start-up’s social media presence. Do you want to focus on growing your following, or increasing engagement amongst followers you already have? These are both important goals worth pursuing, but you would measure them in different ways. When you set a goal, be specific about what you want to accomplish. This makes it easier to select the right measuring stick to track your progress.
Find the right tools
Choosing the right tools is another indispensable part of setting and measuring goals. Fortunately, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are all sorts of extremely helpful tools which can help you to set and measure your goals. From task allocation to market analysis, to web design – there are digital tools which make it simple to take action towards achieving your goals. They can be used to generate better data to track your progress, or organise your workflow for greater efficiency, whatever metrics you choose to use to track your progress, there’s a tool for that!
These tools are broad enough to be suited to many different kinds of businesses. They also provide ample customisation to let you get the most out of them for your specific requirements. Here are some examples from the Ye! Tools database which can help you towards achieving certain goals:
- Asana: This tool supports project management & oversight to increase efficiency and team collaboration all in one place.
- Hotjar: Learn more about your website visitors to and use data to increase website traffic.
- Zenefits: HR made easy. Use this tool to manage all your teams HR and ensure your employees are taken care of.
- Grammarly: Write faster and with fewer errors using this easy writing support tool.
- Google Keyword Planner: Drive traffic to your website in droves! Use this tool to ensure your keywords are performing at tip top level.
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Break goals down into achievable pieces
Setting ambitious goals is great – you want your entrepreneurial endeavours to be as successful as possible. Thinking big and being enterprising in your aims is the way to get there. But setting big goals is most effective when they are broken down into smaller parts. Trying to bite off everything all at once without a plan makes it difficult to know how much progress you’re making.
Take the time to consider what each step along the path to your goal is going to look like. What are the deadlines you will need to hit, or the arrangements which will need to be planned? This creates a road map against which you can measure your progress. At the top sits the ultimate goal, with clear markers of progress along the way.
Celebrate successes
Once you have broken down your goals into its smaller steps or components, it’s important to take time to celebrate ticking the boxes along the way. This doesn’t mean you need to do something extravagant every time you complete a step. But it is important that you allow yourself to take a step back, and reflect on what you have accomplished. It’s okay to be proud of the small wins.This keeps things in perspective, creating a healthy relationship with how far you have come, while still remaining focused on where you are going.
If you set your mind on a goal, lay out the steps you need to take to accomplish it, employ some smart tools, and measure your progress, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Taking note of these strategies to measure your goals will make for easier planning and greater success. With this in mind, you will find you are on your way to realising your goals in no time!
P.S.
One last point we forgot to mention- sometimes you hit a roadblock- it happens to all of us. The important thing however is, don’t be afraid to talk about your setbacks.The best way to overcome these setbacks is to speak with a mentor, family member, or fellow entrepreneur; someone who is on your team can help to put these challenges into perspective and work with you on how to get back on track towards achieving your goals. Don’t let these roadblocks get the best of you! Ye! Community is filled with youth entrepreneurs just like you. Reach out… you never know who you will meet and what insights they may have to share.
Author’s bio:
A creative writer from Wellington, New Zealand - Johanna Cider has written on a wide array of topics for various blogs and sites. She especially enjoys working with career sites such as Working in NZ.
Header Image source: Unsplash