Coaching to Success

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Goal-Setting

How great are you at making decisions? Here’s a tool to help you out

This is such an easy tool to use yet so frequently we struggle with options, we do our pros and cons lists or we just let things rattle around in our head without being totally happy with our final choice.

This is a logical way of getting to that final decision and allows you to find peace with yourself on the decision you make, giving you the confidence through its rationality and can make you stand out as the decision maker when others around you are struggling.

This tool is simply called ‘GRID ANALYSIS’. To start off with, you need to consider two lists. The first is the OPTIONS shown in the row and FACTORS needing to be considered shown in the columns. Then you give each a score in the matrix which gets totalled at the end. May sound a bit too complex to some but it’s truly easy.

Okay, so here goes…

FIRST List your options as the rows on your table. Along the heading, write the factors needing to be considered as the column headings (these can be anything that matters, like cost, availability, service level, maintenance, reliability, dimensions etc).

SECOND Score against each of these headings against the options, these may be supplier, candidate for promotion, product whatever it may be. The score should range between 0 (Worst) to 5 (Best) and score relevantly not differently! By this I mean that if all score 2, then, so be it. You don’t have to be concerned about whether the score matches or not but that you give it a true reflection of what you believe it to be worth.

THIRD Now ‘Weight’ the importance of the factor in your overall relative importance (eg if the items were cost, practicality, reliability, quality you may rate them cost(4), Practicality(1), Reliability(3) and quality(4)… again, it doesn’t matter if a few have the same ratings). Create a row at the top or bottom of your options and write this value.

FORTH take each of your scores set against each factor/option and multiply this by the weight. So, let’s say we were looking to buy a camera. Supplier ‘A’ scored 4 on reliability so based on the previous weighting, this would equate to 4×3=12, whereas, Supplier ‘B’ may only score 2 on this factor, ergo 2×3=6 etc etc

FIFTH is the final stage where you total all the scores at the end of the row and the highest score represents the strongest option to work with

As an example, we’ll use the camera idea from before. The number before the line goes through it is the initial score, the number next to it is the total having used the weighting factor (hopefully that’s clear enough)

FACTOR

Cost

Practicality

Reliability

Quality

TOTAL
Weighting

3

2

4

4

N/A
Camera 1

4 12

3 6

5 20

4 16

54
Camera 2

5 15

1 2

2 8

5 20

25
Camera 3

2 6

5 10

3 12

5 20

48

From this, it is clear to see that Camera Two was never really in the running but One and Three were close, however, by adopting this approach, a clear winner (Camera One is ‘exposed’ as being the right one to go for – sorry, bad pun but you get the idea)

And there you have it, a Grid Analysis tool that helps you to decide between several options, where there are many different factors needing to be considered.

And you can also use this tool to help select that all important Business coach that you need in your organisation, just remember to add Coaching to Success to the Row and speak to us concerning areas that we can help with, costing, availability, benefit, ‘fun’ (always an important element to learning or striving forward with new goals or objectives) and call Neil on 07761 187238… well, it’s worth a try by us isn’t it?

GOING FOR YOUR OWN GOLD… WINNING FORMULA!

Goal Setting!! Yep, easy expression but not so easy to achieve. Back in 1979, New graduates of the Harvard’s MBA Program were interviewed and it was found that 84% had no specific goals at all, 13% had goals but they were not committed to paper 3% had clear, written goals and plans to accomplish them. Later, in 1989, the interviewers again interviewed the graduates of that class and they discovered the following results… The 13% of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all. Even more staggering – the three percent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.

So, Goal Setting. Here’s 7 Tips to set you off on a path of Gold:

  • Tip 1: SET REALISTIC GOAL

Explore your imagination, let it run riot and go for the BIG! And then reign it in to check it is actually achievable and within a time scale that is also realistic. Adopt the SMART strategy (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timed)

  • Tip 2: OPEN YOUR MIND TO ALL AREAS

It is all too easy to simply focus on work-related goals alone. Look at goals that also bring enjoyment into your life relating to you happiness and well-being. Get the balance of goal setting right across all areas of your life.

  • Tip 3: MAKE THE GOALS ‘POSITIVE’

So many times we set ‘Negative’ goals!! What are these? Well, take areas such as wanting to GIVE UP smoking, STOP working so many hours, or to LOSE weight, these are negative so turn them around and put them into the positive… Create a healthier lifestyle, Spend more time with my family or to get fitter. Reframe negatives into positives… you may be surprised at how much more attractive they become and consequently more achievable.

  • Tip 4: SET REALISTIC COMPLETION TIME

Often we estimate to complete a task by ‘x’. To be truly proficient in setting a deadline is to set a start-time. Once you have the start, you can decide how long each segment (if there are more than one) takes to complete your overall goal and then schedule those times in thus removing the panic at the end and inevitably not completing it at all.

  • Tip 5: SET AN ACHIEVABLE AMOUNT OF GOALS

There are only 24 hours in a day, and each goal will take time and energy, therefore, be constructive and realistic in how many goals you can achieve and the time you can give them to insure they receive your full attention. “Quality, NOT quantity” so rather than setting a myriad of goals, by all means, set out what you wish to accomplish and then chose the ones you wish to start on knowing they’re attainable.

  • Tip 6: IT’S NOT A FAILURE, IT’S A LEARNING!

As Thomas Edison commented when he eventually found how to create electric light “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. When you don’t succeed, treat these as ‘Learning’ curves, not failures as these contain the lessons that can ultimately change your life. Take note of where you may not have been successful in reaching your goal and use that knowledge for the next attempt.

  • Tip 7: REVIEW HOW YOU’RE DOING

Some short term goals can be set and achieved in a matter of weeks, others may take years but throughout, it is critical to review your own progress. Analyse what you have achieved up to a given point and do this at regular intervals. If it’s a large overall goal, set sub-goals and reward yourself when you accomplish them within the given time-scale (for me, I make myself a REALLY nice cup of coffee!) It doesn’t have to be costly but something to show you’ve achieved it. Also, you can review or adapt your goal to insure it remains live and realistic.

Coaching to Success help and keep you motivated along your path to success and support you through these transitions and if this is an area you are unsure of or feel you would benefit from, take that first step by speaking to someone who can help you set these goals and keep you on track to reach them, after all, that’s what coaching is all about so pick up the phone to arrange a free consultation on how we can help, contact Neil (07761 187238) or throw us an email at info@coachingtosuccess.co.uk… We’re here to help.