What do you do if your airline management goals seem unattainable?

1 Assess your goals

The first step is to evaluate your goals and see if they are realistic, relevant, and measurable. Sometimes, you may set goals that are too vague, too high, or too dependent on external factors. For example, you may want to increase your market share by 10% in a year, but you don't have a clear strategy, a sufficient budget, or a favorable market condition. In this case, you need to revise your goals and make them more specific, achievable, and aligned with your vision and mission. You can use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to help you set better goals.

2 Break down your goals

The next step is to break down your goals into smaller and more manageable tasks and milestones. This will help you track your progress, celebrate your achievements, and identify your challenges. For example, if your goal is to improve customer satisfaction by 5% in a year, you can divide it into quarterly or monthly objectives, such as conducting surveys, analyzing feedback, implementing changes, and measuring results. You can also assign roles and responsibilities to your team members and communicate your expectations clearly.

3 Adjust your goals

The third step is to adjust your goals according to the changing circumstances and feedback. You may face unexpected obstacles, opportunities, or risks that require you to modify your plans and strategies. For example, you may have to deal with a pandemic, a strike, a merger, or a new regulation that affects your operations and performance. In this case, you need to be flexible and adaptable and revise your goals accordingly. You can use the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act) to help you monitor and improve your actions.

4 Seek support

The fourth step is to seek support from your colleagues, mentors, coaches, or experts. You don't have to achieve your goals alone. You can benefit from the advice, feedback, encouragement, and collaboration of others who share your vision or have more experience and knowledge. For example, you can join a professional network, attend a training program, hire a consultant, or partner with another airline to help you reach your goals. You can also learn from the best practices and success stories of other airlines and managers.

5 Reward yourself

The fifth step is to reward yourself and your team for your efforts and achievements. You need to acknowledge your hard work, appreciate your strengths, and celebrate your wins. This will boost your morale, motivation, and confidence and help you overcome the challenges and setbacks. For example, you can treat yourself and your team to a meal, a gift, a vacation, or a recognition ceremony. You can also share your results and feedback with your stakeholders and customers and thank them for their support.

6 Review your goals

The final step is to review your goals and reflect on your learning and growth. You need to evaluate your performance, outcomes, and impact and see if you met your goals or not. If you did, you can celebrate and move on to the next level. If you didn't, you can analyze the reasons, learn from your mistakes, and try again. You can also set new goals that challenge you and inspire you to achieve more. You can use the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to help you assess your situation and plan your future actions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?