Use the Agile Results Framework to Achieve Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
The productivity method you choose depends largely on your personality. Some methods are easily adaptable , open to interpretation, and flexible, which is convenient if you only need a little guidance. Others, on the other hand, are detailed and based on clear rules, which is great if you need to know exactly what to do and when. Agile Results, a system developed by JD Meier , falls into the latter category; it’s more rigorous than others, but for some of us, that’s exactly what it takes to achieve results.
With Agile Results, you plan and schedule all your goals, from short-term to long-term, so everything is taken into account—even the most ambitious tasks. Here’s how it works.
What is the Agile Results method?
Meyer describes Agile Results as “a results-oriented system that helps you find meaning, momentum, and mastery in all areas of your life.” It’s an optimistic and lofty slogan, but at its core, it boils down to a more serious approach to goal setting and planning.
You’ll focus on “three wins” at every level, from the daily to the yearly. (“Wins” is essentially a synonym for your goals, but saying “wins” implies you already expect to achieve them, which sets a certain tone.) First, set three “wins” as year-round goals. This can be the first of the new year, or any other time, as long as you’re looking ahead a full 365 days and your goals are designed to be achieved within that period. These are, of course, your biggest, most overarching goals—the ones that will require a lot of action and effort between now and next year to become true “wins.”
Next, set quarterly goals. These are large goals that will carry over into your annual goals. You can set them on the first day of the quarter if you start on January 1st, or every three months if you start at a different time. If you’re having trouble determining what your quarterly goals should be, try using mind maps to visualize your large projects and all the components that comprise them.
Then set monthly goals related to these objectives. It’s generally best to begin this method on the first of the month to establish a simple structure, but again, you can do it any time you like, as long as the goals listed here can be achieved in about four weeks and, when combined, bring them closer to your quarterly and annual goals.
Then, set weekly goals every Monday and daily goals every morning, decreasing the size of each goal until you’ve created a system of daily building blocks that lead to weekly wins, weekly goals that lead to monthly wins, monthly goals that lead to quarterly wins, and so on. This is where it gets difficult to follow, so initially set a reminder on your phone every morning (and two on Mondays) to encourage you to create smaller goals. You can add this to to-do apps you already use. My favorite is Finch , where I can set goals that repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly and get a cute in-app reward when I check them off, but if you’re looking for something different, try one of these .
No matter how you do it, set aside 10 minutes each morning to set daily goals, with 15-20 minutes on other days to focus on structuring weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals. Keep in mind that these goals need to be structured and organized, so you should use a daily planner or other easily accessible document. I recommend using Google Sheets and creating separate sheets for each set of goals in a single workbook. Using a cloud service instead of Excel or a similar program will make it easy to find your goals no matter where you are.
Take this seriously. A conscious goal-setting process requires no rush. Use time blocks and time boxes to allocate specific times for tasks, and stick to them. Finally, make sure your achievements—from daily to annual—are specific. I recommend using SMART goals to write detailed, thoughtful statements about your goals, as they help you stay on track and realistic.
Review is the key to Agile Results
Setting aside time each morning to write down your goals is crucial, but it’s equally important to review your progress after lunch. Each day, reflect on how you’ve accomplished your daily goals. Every Friday, expand your reflection time to include weekly goals, and at the end of each month, be sure to review your monthly goals as well. Continue this process until the end of the year, when you can look back and assess how far you’ve come in achieving your annual “wins.”
Meyer suggests setting aside time on Fridays to write down three things that are going well and three that need improvement. This borrows from the military’s post-mission review : identify what went wrong and what went well to stay on track. This review plays a key role in shaping the next set of daily and weekly “wins.” Taking the time to focus on successes, rather than simply identifying problem areas, will also motivate you, so be sure to record your reflections somewhere in your planner or document.