MINES & Associates - Learn How to Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

LONG-TERM PLANNING.

Establish Objectives
Do you want to manufacture 6 million widgets in four months? Reconcile accounts for all past due receipts by the end of the year? The first step in long-term planning is establishing objectives.

Determine What You Need to Meet Your Goals
What materials and machinery do you need to produce those widgets? How many accountants are on hand to reconcile the books? If you don't have enough supplies, where can you find more? The second step is to make sure you have what you need to reach your goals.

Assign Responsibility
Decide who will operate the widget press and supervise the operators. Appoint a chief accountant. Make sure the department is staffed to meet the needs of the project.

Define Action Steps
What are the steps in manufacturing widgets? What resources do you need to reconcile the books? Outline the process for each project. Action steps become part of your short-term plans.

Schedule Action Steps
With your action steps in hand, schedule tasks to meet your goals within a defined timeline. Use yearly, monthly and weekly calendars to help schedule your time. How many widgets must you produce each month to meet your goal?

Select Start Dates
Set a date that will allow completion by your target date. When does the manufacturing process start? Provide Ways to Measure Progress How many widgets have been pressed, boxed and shipped after one month, two months or the first quarter?

SHORT-TERM PLANNING

Weekly Plans
A weekly plan should describe what you want to accomplish by the end of the week and the activities needed to get you there. Weekly plans can be developed on Friday for the following week, over the weekend or on Monday morning. Many people use commute time for this activity.

Daily Plans
If you make a habit of using a daily calendar, many of your activities will already be recorded. This is the best way to develop your "things to do today" list. A daily prioritized list is the best way to focus your attention on your most important objectives. Work from the top of your list. When unexpected demands arise, assess their priority and handle them accordingly. At the end of each day, carry forward any items that need completing. Reprioritize these with tomorrow's new items.
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For over 25 years MINES & Associates has been a nationally recognized business psychology firm that provides a variety of services to corporate employers including employee assistance programs (EAP), managed mental healthcare, organizational development and psychology services, wellness programs, behavioral risk management, disease management, PPO services, and a number of other technology based services. MINES & Associates is divided into two main divisions, Organizational Psychology and Health Psychology, and currently serves a diverse portfolio of clients in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the UK.