5 Steps for Couples in Business to Set Goals Together

5 Steps for Couples in Business to Set Goals Together

Did you know that 86% of employees lack communication or collaboration on their goals, resulting in workplace failures? If you have been following me for a while, you would know that I have worked with my spouse for over 10 years and every day we make it a point to be aligned with our goals and dreams. As an entrepreneur couple, being a pro at hitting curveballs thrown your way daily comes with the title. Owning a business together adds a layer of challenge to the mix so we make sure we tackle both areas accordingly.

I know the struggles of miscommunication or lack of clarity when working with your spouse, especially if you are working WITHIN the business rather than ON the business. But who says you cannot have it all? It is completely possible to have a great relationship and great business with your spouse at the same time. Here are 5 steps to make well-wished goals become more actionable. As a gift, I will give you a FREE goal tracker for you and your spouse to use at the end of this article to get you started right away.

To get the wheel turning, here are 3 goals you might have for your business and 3 for your relationship:

Personal:

  1. Explore, know and understand each other’s love language
  2. Embracing and complementing each other's differences and a clear conflict resolution strategy for when things get messy
  3. Going on regular dates together and enjoy each other’s company without distraction


Business:

  1. Financial Freedom Through Automating Your Business
  2. Successful KPI Goals for the Quarter
  3. A Well-Defined Audience Persona and Consistent Lead Generation

1. Start At The End

Couples who are in business together are a different breed. They can no longer just ‘wing it’ in terms of their relationship and business because their work and personal sides are interlocked. My advice is to take time out of your busy schedules to unwind and start writing your long-term goals.

The best way to write them is to use the S.M.A.R.T. technique. The goal needs to be:

  • Specific (What EXACTLY do you want to accomplish)
  • Measurable (How will you know when you meet your goal)
  • Attainable (Is it possible to meet this goal within a timeline)
  • Relevant (Is this goal in line with your bigger business goals)
  • Timely (What is the deadline for your goals)

The most important factor here is making your goal time-bound because you want to be aware of the urgency and act on it as soon as you can.

If you need more prompts, visualize what you and your partner would do in the future. What will be your daily activities that relate to that goal? After you created your goal, you need to make them bite-sized. Create a monthly target to reach for each month so you and your partner do not feel overwhelmed. It also has to be realistic so you do not become overworked.

The resource I will give you at the end will help with exactly that!


2. Listen To Each Other

I've heard this quote before, “The success and failure of marriage is not on whether there is conflict but on the nature of how conflict is handled,” and this can also be applied to the business setting. The best way to avoid or alleviate conflict and become more clear on your goals is to take time and listen to each other.

Make your partner feel heard and loved by giving them the chance to explain their point. Goal setting is a way for both of you to set up your future together, so it is vital that both sides are heard and everything is laid out on the table.

3. Write It Down

Writing your goals from pen to paper (or digitally, through our free goals template) will allow you to be aligned and dedicated to achieving the goal together. If you come up with too many goals, choose to invest first in goals that are essential i.e. finances or health.

Psychology-based studies show that people who write down their goals are even more likely to have success getting to where they want to go. This is due to the clarity they have, which turns into motivation and momentum.

4. Prepare Individually.

Great teams aren’t necessarily about having the smartest person in the room. It is more about how the group functions as a cohesive unit. Couples in business together do not need to work together ALL the time.

I am certain that your “Zone of Genius” is slightly different, if not a total contrast to that of your partner. Take one for the team and delegate your work based on your skillset. One person’s weakness is another person’s strength. Convening together after a day of separate work becomes more exciting as both parties are bringing something new to the table.

5. Have Each Other’s Backs

It is unrealistic to think that your business will only experience success and that you will meet all the goals you set with a bullseye. Most entrepreneurs feel the pressure to achieve success straightaway, but that 'success' is made up of a comprehensive formula run over the years of consistent trial and error.


My husband and I unfailingly motivate each other. What may experience as a ‘failure’ now is a valuable experience that fits the whole puzzle later. This could be your business strategy, optimizing your workflows, or breaking down communication barriers.


Bonus tip: There is no ‘right way’ to approach a goal but it is vital to follow your best instinct and be guided by sound advice from professionals in your field. Decide on your first action steps and just dive in, then carve your strategies along the way.


As promised, here is my FREE DOWNLOADABLE COUPLE- BUSINESS GOAL SETTING WORKSHEET. For this exercise to work, I suggest you invest your time and attention to it regularly as it will help you create a clear overview of your business.

About the author, Sheles Wallace

Sheles is an award-winning business coach who gets results for her clients.
For over 15 years, she has helped business owners achieve their goals and
take their businesses to the next level. If you're ready to take the next
step in your business evolution and go from an owner who wears all hats to
creating a commercial, profitable enterprise that runs without you, find out

more here: https://calendly.com/sheles/introduction?month=2021-06