Now is a great time to review what you have achieved in 2022, and plan for 2023.
We have reached that time of year, where we take stock in what we have accomplished and begin planning for the new year. December is a great time to reflect on what you have achieved and where you may have fallen short.
We all have goals – whether individual, those set forth by our company, or goals and objectives that we are working to achieve for our clients. Goals provide a framework to help us be more productive. Periodically it is good to reflect, track your progress, and assess what you have achieved. This will help you adjust and redefine your short and long-term goals, and identify areas for future growth.
Setting SMART Goals
Your personal performance goals are some of the most important, because they will help provide focus for you to achieve tasks. They can be a great way to motivate yourself and align your personal goals with the broader goals of the company. It is always helpful if everyone is rowing in the same direction. When defining goals, it is good to use the SMART method so you can easily track progress. The table below outlines what to consider when using this framework.
When defining SMART goals work with your manager to fine tune your goals and make sure you are aligned. This makes it easier to check in and measure your success and find where you may need additional support to reach your target. Your manager will be able to help you fully understand the over-arching goals of the company, which can help guide your personal strategy.
Do you have external customers? How have those accounts performed?
This is also a great time to check in with customers and do an annual review. If you work in a role that is customer facing, take time to set up annual account reviews. These reviews not only help strengthen your relationship, they provide time to review accomplishments, identify goals that were met throughout the year, and determine what needs to be adjusted moving forward. The role we play working with customers often helps them to achieve their goals. It is important to meet and work together to create success.
Stay Flexible
The past few years have presented many obstacles; price increases, logistics issues, and employee shortages to name a few. It has been important to know when to be flexible with our goals and when to stay the course. It is more important to be resilient and responsive to change, than to be rigid and fall short of our goals. This might mean that you need to break down some larger goals into smaller, more manageable goals, and you may need to assess your goals more often and make adjustments to achieve success. By revisiting your goals more frequently, you have a better chance of making progress, prioritizing and ultimately reaching them. Discuss them with your manager as often as needed to see if you need adjustments to set you and your company on a path to success.
Moving Forward
Take time to reflect on your goals and make them a priority. Remember to review your goals at least quarterly, and ensure they are still achievable, realistic, and timely for your customers and yourself. With a strategy in place you should be ready to roll into 2023 strong, no matter what the future holds.
Dennis Kwasny | Territory Manager – Northern WI
Dennis has worked in the water treatment industry for over 30 years and has experience in boiler, cooling and wastewater chemical treatment programs. Dennis leads educational training events and seminars to promote better water management and improve safety. He is a Certified Water Technologist (CWT). Contact him directly at 715-409-0129, dennis@watertechusa.com or follow him on
LinkedIn.