Do you know what the term "the big picture" means? It means having a foresight on the bird's eye view of your business, and how you would like to see it grow in the long run. Setting goals is a very important aspect of any business strategy, and the businessman needs to know where his company is headed over the coming months and years. Business goal setting provides the basic blueprint of operating for the company, and helps give direction to the company as a whole. The break up of this goal into time frames allows for a break up of the larger blueprint as well, and helps set individual targets for teams and employees at the company on all levels within.

These are some of the elements that a businessman may evaluate before they decide on the goals they want to set:

1. The strengths of a company. This forms the most powerful element of business goal setting, and doesn't everyone want to talk about the strengths of their company? Recognize your strengths and the potential of your company. Do not at the same time be over confident. Set realistic goals, and take the strengths into account. The strengths should firstly be powerful enough to overcome the company's weaknesses.

2. Weaknesses - considering a company's weaknesses is as important as considering its strengths, if not more. And this goes all the more when you are setting business goals. Consider the weaknesses that may be hurdles in accompanying these goals, and set realistic targets keeping these weaknesses in mind. Make sure you goals are not so far fetched that it causes harmful stress to everyone involved in achieving them. Remember that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so make sure those weak links are not stressed to break point.

3. Make the most of opportunities that come your way. Opportunity is that aspect of your business that you may not be totally in control over. Do try and set your business goals and strategies keeping the current opportunities that you see, as short term goals. Opportunities do not knock every day, and it is an utter waste to let one pass you by.

4. Threats to the company - It is also very difficult to assess the threats to your company, because this is another aspect that you cannot control. Moreover, you may not have sufficient information to make a clear assessment of the threats. So, when you make your business plan and set goals, leave some slack for threats that may suddenly crop up without the slightest warning.

Make a clear assessment of all items listed above before you plan your business goals. You may want to expand on the points mentioned, to suit the needs of your company in particular.