Be specific about what you want or don’t want to achieve. (Using what you want is best, though not always possible.) The result should be tangible and measurable. “Hold regular meetings” is pretty ambiguous; “Hold 20 meetings per month (one per person) with my direct reports” is specific.

Reward yourself at different points in the goal, particularly if it’s long-term. If your goal is to complete three courses, for example, you might treat yourself at the end of each course. If the courses are long, then do something at the end of a group of modules or lessons.

The goal must be something that you want to do. If your boss wants you to increase productivity and you’re not interested, you’re not going to want to work towards the goal. Find something about the goal to anchor yourself. Look how excited the team will be, what the increased profits to the company will be, or the recognition for yourself. Then, link it to your own motivation to get it done.

Review your progress periodically. Does the goal continue to make sense? Are you stuck? Do you need to adjust certain parts of it? Do you need help?

Frame the goal positively. Make it fun to accomplish. You could make a poster of the end result, frame it, and post it on the wall. Our minds respond much better to excited, positive language than to negative language.

Give yourself a deadline for achieving the goal. Even better, split the goal into small parts and give yourself a deadline for each item so you can check them off in turn.