Now is the perfect time to think about your business growth. If you have not yet developed your business road map, do so now. Assess your business processes, the structures you need to establish, and your revenue model for growth. Look back at your most recent years in business — What were your beliefs, experiences, and actions? What were your results? Are you satisfied? What worked? What did not work? To get results, what changes do you need to make? Hold yourself accountable for those results.
Here are four ways to hold yourself accountable to your business goals and objectives.
1. Envision Your Business
A “vision board” forces you to put your vision on paper, providing direction for your business roadmap and to own your business results for the year. A vision board is a tool used to help provide focus and clarity on a specific goals. You can use images or words that represent whatever you want to be, do, or have in your life personally and/or professionally.Set aside time to think about what you want to really accomplish this year. Is it increased revenue? Hiring goals? Process improvements? Pursuing a different client target? Remember, thinking about your end business game is a start. A vision board is a great way to visualize your objectives and align your business goals. Don’t forget to review it often to make sure you are on track.
2. Break Down Your Goals
You feel great because you have your business vision, but you may be unsure where to begin. Write down your high-level goals or “buckets”. These buckets may include strategic partners, a revenue model, team or hiring goals, or marketing goals. Under each bucket, write down what you want to accomplish, milestones, and deadlines.
If you are working with team members, engage them by sharing your business vision. Get their input about the vision. Meet regularly to review your goals and progress.
3. Track and Measure Progress
If you do not measure your progress, you will not know if you are making progress. Milestones are critical. They help you create a check and balance system to hold yourself and your team accountable to the goals. They also provide an opportunity for you to pivot, learn, and pivot again.
4. Build Your Power Support Structures
Support structures are crucial. If you are a solopreneur, find a business networking group or align with your referral partners to hold you accountable.
Business teams are dynamic; they should be constantly creating goals and measuring them. However, ensuring that teams are working effectively requires that there is an environment in which there is openness, trust, collaboration, and connection. Your team must provide authentic support and achieve the desired team results.
Whether you are a solopreneur or team leader, you can become stale or myopic. Build trust, collaborate, cultivate your circle of colleagues, and be sure to ask for support to help you achieve your goals.
