2022 is set to be the best year ever, so you set these BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Now that the first quarter of the year is over, what should you be doing to ensure you meet your goals? Have you ever looked back at the goals you set?

If not, this is the time to do so. Self-reflection is an important step in your professional and personal development. Reflecting on your goals could be the difference between sadness and having your best year ever. 

I recommend doing a thorough review of your goals at least quarterly. How do you complete this process you ask? Do not worry, see the details below. Let’s review this important step in your goal success journey.

What is a quarterly goal review? 

To be honest, the goal follow-up process is just as important as the goal-setting process. It is a key step in your goal success journey. Why set goals if you are not going to track your progress? This is where quarterly goal reviews come in.

A goal review is a systematic check-in to determine how you are progressing with your goals.

Without true evaluation or reflection, there is no way to know if you are on the right track or deviating badly from your plan.  

Why should I review goals quarterly? 

Quarterly goal reviews keep you accountable, allow you to stay on-task but also appreciate the journey, permit you to celebrate your wins, and change goals if needed.  

Accountability

Accountability is a key step in your goal success journey. Taking ownership or responsibility for your goal success is essential to meeting your goals. The act of checking in with your goals automatically makes you more accountable to them.

Focus

A quarterly review will give you dedicated time to focus on your goals. Having this time to reflect on your current status will help you decide if you are exactly where you want to be or if there is more that needs to be done.

Acknowledge the process

Recognize that your goal success journey is a process. By taking the time to respect the process and appreciating every minute of it. This will bring you so much joy. It is not just about the destination, the journey is also filled with life lessons that make you a stronger, better person.

Celebrate the wins

Sometimes when we are so focused on getting to the desired end, we forget to take the time and celebrate how far we have come. Doing a goal check-in allows you to pat yourself on the back when something goes right.

Reevaluate goals

Take the time to review if your goals still fit in your current situation. For example, did you have a goal to go back to school but now there are changes in your family situation which may delay that goal. Goal reviews help you identify changes you need to make earlier so you are not disappointed with your progress (or lack thereof) at the end of the year.

How to do a quarterly goal review? 

1

Set the tone. Take the time to get in the right mood. Use a portion of your ‘me-time’, make a tasty drink, snuggle up in a blanket and start reviewing.

2

Grab your goal list from the beginning of the year and review each goal separately. Document how things are going now. Have you reached your goal? If not, where are you in the process? Do not forget this important step.  

3

Evaluate the goal. Now it is time to determine if the goal still fits in your dream plan. Is it in line with your vision? Or with the person, you want to be? Here are some questions to ask yourself to figure this out:

4

Create an action plan. What steps do you need to do now to ensure that your next quarterly review is a positive one? Use the ‘next actions’ above to create a comprehensive action plan for your goals moving forward. Write it down and make it plain.

Bonus

Invite a few friends over to review goals together. Why not make an event out of it and schedule a goal party. This way you have instant accountability partners and will have someone to celebrate (or commiserate) with.

Now that you have the 4+ steps to a successful quarterly goal review, it is time to carve out some of your precious time to get this done. No more staring at your goals in December and wondering where the time went. A review will ensure that you are on track with where you want to be. And if not, you can easily redirect to the path you would like to be on. 

I hope this post inspires you to review your goals today. Once you finish your goal review, let us know in the comments how it went. If you need more direction on how to set and keep your goals, check out my YGoal Workbook. Follow us on Instagram for additional enlightenment, inspiration, and tools/strategies to improve your life. For a personalized deep dive into the goal setting and goal review process, schedule a session today.