As we approach the halfway point of January and look ahead to the remaining 10 weeks of the first quarter, we remind you the importance of planning for success. As the working world increasingly transitions to a continuous performance management model, businesses are shifting to setting quarterly, rather than annual, goals and with good reason.

1. Shorter-term goals are less likely to be derailed. Especially in today’s business environment where things can change overnight, 12 months is a really, really long time.
2. The condensed timeframe helps employees to set smart, realistic goals. If you’re familiar with  SMART goals, you know the value of setting goals that are realistic. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
3. Quarterly goal-setting creates an opportunity to celebrate little wins, With annual goals, you either win or lose, so to speak, once a year. This means you’ve got just one opportunity to use goals as a motivational tool each year.
4.  Managers get a clearer view of employee progress. When we’re stuck in the day-to-day activities of our jobs, it can be hard to see progress. But short-term quarterly goals create a natural stopping point, allowing us to check in and take stock of how far we have – or haven’t – come.