1. Start simple

Start with a few overall goals. These may well require help from others and depend on things that happen that we have no control over. 

The Queen’s might include, improve the reputation of the Royal family.

2. Take control

Support each of these goals with a series of objectives that concentrate on things that are largely up to you to do, which will help deliver the outcomes. Say, attend over 100 charity functions.

3. Be positive

The best goals are expressed positively. Greater support for the monarchy rather than less support for a republic.

4. Set measures

Measures are good, otherwise it’s impossible to tell how well you’ve done. The % of the UK population who believe that the monarchy is good value for money, is a hard measure, but unprompted, positive remarks from a range of opinion formers or newspaper leader columns could be just as useful. 

5. Agree targets that stretch but don’t strain

Define missed goal, success, mighty success and ‘you must be joking’. A better reputation than last year is realistic, than any other European head of state is a stretch, than Nelson Mandela may be a step too far.  

6. Discussion is essential

Goals that are imposed or agreed in isolation disappear without trace. Ones that are discussed and agreed are more likely to motivate and less likely to be changed.

7. Look to the future

Start with what a great year (quarter, month) would be like. Worry about the ‘how’ and ‘what support is needed to achieve them’ later.

8. Publish goals

Others will be more likely to help you achieve them and it will be easier to see where various individuals’ efforts overlap or contradict.

9. Keep going back

Revisit at regular intervals to see how things are going. It’s easy to forget what some of them are and a regular chat helps keep on track.

10. Be ready for change

Circumstances change; if goals are going to be useful they will need to change too. Again, this needs to be done collaboratively. I don’t mind if the goal posts are moved so long as I was the one that moved them.

11. See the bigger picture

Show how the goals fit with some greater mission or objectives for the team or organisation. I don’t mind beavering away but I do want to know that it is all worthwhile.