Written by: Karen Cappello, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Goal setting is the very foundation of progress in our personal and professional lives. Now imagine you cracked the code to setting strong goals and exceeding them every single time – that would practically be a superpower!
In our coaching businesses, we are inundated with advice. Advice from podcasts, blogs, thought leaders, and friends focused on goal setting. Some people prefer to set intentions rather than goals. Others prefer to aim high – audaciously high – to send their productivity into overdrive. And still, others will tell you to not dream too big, lest you demotivate yourself by becoming overwhelmed.
Now I've tried all of the above (and more), and what I found is that there's a method to set goals that can practically guarantee stellar results. And today, I’m going to give you a three-step process to help you do just that.
1. Visionary Goals
In order to be successful in your executive coaching business, you MUST have a ‘North Star’. This is a guiding light that lends a lot of flow and momentum to your business. Having a magnet for your energy gives you focus. And focus is a powerful place to start!
You might remember a time when you had a dozen different goals all running in a dozen different directions. The result? You were probably burned-out working 100+ hours a week – with little reward to show for it. It’s time to break that cycle. Once your energy is focused like a laser beam on a goal, it's much easier to achieve.
So, what would a visionary goal look like? Well, let’s say you set a certain profit goal for the year – “I want to make six figures in six months.” You now have your North Star. This is exciting, a little scary, and gives you something to aim for. This brings us to…
2. Strategic Goals
Alright, now that you have your visionary goal, you need an impetus, namely, a strategy that drives you to your vision.
Following along with the same example, to reach six figures in six months, your strategic goal could be to obtain ten $10,000 contracts in six months.
That is your plan of action. You could also have a strategy to serve a hundred clients at the $1,000 level or obtain two $50,000 contracts or utilize any other way you can think of to accomplish that vision.
3. Tactical Goals
Stopping at a strategic goal isn't enough though, you need one last goal that brings it all together. This is where the magic happens – with your tactical goals! A tactical goal consists of the weekly or daily actions that you're going to take to get to that visionary goal.
It's the only goal you're in COMPLETE control of. In our example of achieving six figures in six months, with obtaining ten, $10,000 contracts, the tactical goal could be inviting 12 people per day who are your ideal clients into complimentary consultations for the next 10 weeks.
According to one study, 30% of those invited to a complimentary coaching consultation will say yes. And according to another study, 25% to 60% of those partaking in the consultation will become paying clients.
If you invited 12 people into consultations per week, the odds of 30% of them, which is four, actually showing up for the meeting would be high. And of those four, a conservative estimate of one would probably become a paying client.
That makes the odds of achieving your strategic goal really high!
Remember…
Visionary, Strategic, and Tactical goals will create your blueprint for success. Follow this simple three-step process and your business is practically guaranteed to take off – in a BIG way!
And with that, I wish you a very happy goal-setting (and goal-fulfilling) journey!
Karen Cappello, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Karen Cappello, MCC, BCC, is a business and executive coach, communication specialist, motivational speaker and coach trainer. She collaborates with leaders and executive coaches to promote highly beneficial business outcomes. With over 30 years of experience and expertise in business management, financial planning, and higher education, Karen has brought a broad-based background to her coaching clientele.
