How to Become a Top Performer

1. Outstanding performers set and achieve goals.
2. Outstanding performers are organized.
3. Outstanding performers are detail oriented and execute well.

In this post, I’ll delve into each of these three in more detail.

Goals

Outstanding performance begins with S.M.A.R.T. goals.  These goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results Oriented and Time Specified.

• Specific – Your goals should be targeted, nor broad and general.  They should be unambiguous and explicit. 
• Measurable – you should be able to tell quickly and easily if you’ve met your goal.  Develop a set of criteria that will be indicative of success or failure in meeting each of your goals
• Achievable – Set goals that are challenging, but not incredibly difficult to achieve.  A challenging goal is motivating, an impossible one is demotivating.
• Results Oriented – Focus on results, avoid in the activity trap.  Your goals should focus on the results you want to achieve, not the activities you will undertake to get there.  For example, “improved presentation skills” is a result; “participating in a presentation skills training program” is an activity.  It’s possible to complete activities and not achieve the desired result.
• Time Specified – Set deadlines for achieving your goals. Well developed goals come with time limits.

Once you have developed a set of S.M.A.R.T. goals, you need to work them.  Here are some ideas for accomplishing your goals and becoming an outstanding performer: