The beginning of the new year can be a time full of hope. But for many it can also be a time filled with disappointment when we stumble at the first hurdle and quietly retreat to last year’s habits.

After the past few years, many organisations are currently planning for whatever curveballs could be thrown their way, making the task of setting their new year goals a little trickier than before.

Here are our 4 tips to set meaningful new year goals for your organisation:

1. Set SMART goals
   S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. SMART goals are specific goals that are achievable, realistic, and have a set timeframe for completion.
   
   Set your SMART goals at a company-wide level first, and then communicate these throughout the organisation, so that every individual understands how their work impacts the company's overall goals and objectives. You can then take this one step further and ask individuals within the business to set their own quarterly goals which are aligned to the company-wide objectives.
   
   
2. Allow for feedback from your employees
   It’s crucial that your employees are able to understand how they can have a direct impact on the company goals. If they don’t understand or believe in them, how are they going to help materialise them?
   
   Communicate your goals across the organisation and create a safe space for open and honest feedback and encourage regular review sessions to check up on progress.
    
3. Identify KPIs to track the success
   To ensure you’re on track, you need to identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you will use to track the success of your goals, both on an individual and company-wide level.
   
   Deadlines should also be set to ensure goals are achieved in a timely manner, and regular check in sessions between leaders and their direct reports should be set up to monitor progress and next steps.
   
   
4. Don’t be afraid of change
   If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. So, if progress is halted and you find your goals are no longer feasible, don’t be afraid to reflect and tweak your goals where necessary.

Developing a plan is the best way to break your goals into digestible, achievable actions to keep you on track. Apply these tips to your new year goal setting strategy and see for yourself how much more manageable those big goals feel.