12 Proven Processes for Identifying and Executing Business Goals

No matter what industry you’re in, business success starts with identifying short- and long-term goals. However, it can be tricky to figure out exactly how to set and achieve those objectives.

To help, Rolling Stone Culture Council business leaders share their goal-setting strategies and why these methods are effective. Follow their recommendations to help you refine your approach to achieving your business goals.

Implement Goal Cascading

When it comes to goals, the most important thing is cascading the company’s goals to all levels of the organization and making them relevant. The two key words are “cascading” and “relevant.” Make sure everyone has the goals, and make sure they relate directly to what they do. – Brendan Keegan, bFEARLESS Racing

Use a Sprint Strategy

At our company, we implement a sprint strategy common to technology teams across our entire organization. Our sprints define monthly team goals to then identify and assign the corresponding tasks. As a tech company, we find this solutions-oriented approach effective to work in unison while maintaining individual accountability — the puzzle formed by the puzzle pieces. – Justin Fredericks, Art House

Set Realistic Goals

Be realistic. If you have a new goal to reach, make sure that you look at all the problems it will take to reach your goal. The process of identifying the problems and solving the problems will help with the strategy to achieve the end goal. – Adam Rumanek, Aux Mode Inc.

Work Backward

Start with the end in mind. I am a visionary, so vision-setting, brainstorming and evaluation sessions help me map out objectives for possible planning or development. I suggest having a routine to create space for you to center in on how you can push your goals forward. – Sonia Singh, Center of Inner Transformations

Set SMART Goals

As a leader, I follow a process of setting SMART goals — or ones that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This involves team brainstorming sessions to align on objectives, regular progress reviews and adjustments as needed. This structured approach ensures clarity, accountability and continuous improvement, driving sustained business success. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors

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Reassess What Is Working and What Is Not

Sometimes, leaders get into the trap of trying to rework and maintain an idea, strategy or project, and they lose sight of what parts they may need to let go of to advance. Knowing when to let something go isn’t giving up; it’s opening the door to enhance your mission and allow space for new resources. – Cynthia Johnson, Bell + Ivy

Take a Collaborative Approach

My goal-setting process involves gathering team input for real-world needs, defining SMART goals collaboratively and tracking progress with regular check-ins. This approach builds ownership, increases buy-in and boosts success rates. It’s a win-win for both leaders and teams. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC

Set Annual Goals With Mid-Year Check-Ins

Implement annual SMART goal setting organization-wide, for specific departments and individually. Then hold mid-year check-ins for those goals (and also for performance) as well as a year-end review of both the SMART goals and individual performance. This has proven to be an ironclad success strategy for our team and for our clients. – Scott Curran, Beyond Advisers

Establish a Regular Meeting Schedule

A regular meeting cadence is essential for any business to stay on task. During these meetings, company stakeholders can discuss any delays or issues in hitting goals and other targets. This can help ensure product updates and launches stay on track. – Dustin Eide, CanPay

Focus on Market Opportunities

Market opportunities are often simply unmet needs. Find people with an expertise you don’t have and ask what unmet needs they see. Ask why — in their view — these needs remain unmet. Then ask your stakeholders: What strategic advantages do we have that might allow us to address these needs? The overlap between clear need, strategic advantage and available capacity is a recipe for success. – Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media

Figure Out What Is Missing

I ask what is missing. Then, I assess the cost and time to implement and weigh that answer against what else I could do with that time and money for the overall good of the business and whether it really helps our mandate, our clients and ourselves. This process helps me discern what is best not only for now but also for at least the next two years. – Susan Johnston, New Media Film Festival®

Create Subgoals Based on Your Ultimate Goal

First, you need to identify the main goal or vision that your company is trying to achieve long term, and then the goal for the year follows that. Each subgoal is in support of that higher goal. For example, when asked if Southwest Airlines could serve chicken salad aboard its flights, its then-CEO Herb Kelleher replied that doing so would not serve their goal of being the lowest-cost airline. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Jaffer Foundation