Jani-King Gulf Coast Franchise Owner SMART Goals

It’s 2024, and the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to establish what goals you want to achieve in your business!

Maybe it’s increasing revenue, expanding your team, or bettering the operations of your team. Whatever it is, it’s important to have a framework to set goals for your company. The framework we use at Jani-King Gulf Coast and throughout our regions is SMART goals. What are SMART goals? The acronym S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, outlining a structured approach to goal setting. This approach provides a clear and orderly framework to enhance the effectiveness of the goal-setting process.

Specific: The first element of S.M.A.R.T. goals is Specific. When setting a goal, it is important to define it. Avoid vague language. A specific goal clearly outlines what needs to be accomplished. It answers the questions of who, what, where, when, and why. By specifying your desired outcome, you and your team can maintain focus and direction.

Measurable: The second aspect is the importance of Measurability. A goal should be something you can calculate to track progress and determine when it has been successfully achieved. When you establish clear metrics it provides a concrete way to review performance and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies. This not only enhances accountability but also enables you and your team to celebrate milestones and stay motivated throughout the year.

Achievable: Your next approach is that the goal should be Achievable, stressing the need for realistic and attainable goals. When you set objectives that are too far-fetched it can lead to frustration and lower motivation. Assessing resources, skills, and constraints ensures that the goal is challenging, but can be accomplished, encouraging you and your team to push their limits without setting themselves up for failure.

Relevant: The fourth aspect is making sure your goals remain Relevant to your business’s broader objectives and priorities. A relevant goal contributes meaningfully to the overall mission, vision, or strategy. Keeping your goal closely relevant to the mission statement ensures that your efforts are focused on initiatives that truly matter, providing our customers a level of service unequaled in the cleaning industry.

Time-Bound: The final element of S.M.A.R.T. goals is Time-bound. This emphasizes the necessity of establishing a timeframe for achieving the goal. Setting even incremental deadlines can create a sense of urgency, prevent procrastination and provide a clear endpoint for evaluation. This time-related dimension adds structure to the goal-setting process, enabling individuals or teams to dedicate resources effectively and monitor progress as you go. Time-bound goals facilitate better planning and foster a greater commitment to achieving desired outcomes.

And if you need any other help thinking through the goals for your business this year, or applying the SMART metric, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Regional Director! They can’t wait to help you Ignite a fiery year of excellent business.