How To Set Goals
Setting goals is getting discussed more now. You might ask: ‘Why is setting goals important?’. If it for personal or professional reasons, goals help to provide focus and motivation. Having goals brings more clarity to our lives and an aim to work towards. With not having clear goals or no goals at all could lead to frustration, boredom, feeling lost and a lack of purpose for life.
I have a few tips to share about setting goals and how to go about it. Always write your goals down if it a short or long-term. Having them written you are more likely to achieve your goals. Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People states “Start with the End in Mind”. You should know what the result of your goal is and then write out a plan and the steps that you will take to achieve your goal.
Get into a habit of asking questions for setting your goals such as:
· Why have I set this goal?
· What do I want to achieve from setting this goal?
· What are my motives for this goal?
· What is my purpose for this goal?
The questions asked are to get you thinking if this is a goal you want to pursue and achieve. When setting goals always check in with your values and see if your values represent your goals. Setting goals is a lot easier when you know yourself well, what your passions and interests are. You are clear on what is important for you and what is not important. Always have a timeframe or deadline when you will reach your goal as this will help you to use your time and to not wander aimlessly going about your goal. Have a weekly or daily planner to track the progress of the goal and check regularly.
You might ask: ‘Why do people not set goals?’. There are a few reasons why people don’t set goals and the most common are listed below as follows:
· Don’t know how to set goals.
· Fear of failure, not being good enough or people will laugh.
· Limiting self-beliefs are holding them back.
· Low confidence and don’t trust themselves.
That is why it is important to do personal development work. Get clear on what you really want in life. Take time to address your fears and understand what is holding you back. Work towards overcoming your fears and have an action plan in place. Goals are meant to be challenging. If they are too easy that means you are in your comfort zone and there is a lot more that your potential can achieve. When setting a challenging goal, you need to be realistic and plan how you will get there and make adjustments that may be needed.
Below are two models that can be used to help you achieve your personal or professional goals. They are the GROW and SMART Models.
GROW Model
Goal: What do you want?
Reality: What is your situation?
Options: What are all the possibilities that are available to you?
Will: What will you decide to do?
This is a simple four stage model that is easy to follow. The first step is to clarify what you want. This is the goal. The second step is to look at your current situation. For example, you could be working and studying at the same time. You might have a family, a mortgage to repay and other financial commitments. The third stage is to list all the options that you have. Write down as many possibilities you can think of even if they sound unrealistic and the more options you have the more choice you have available to you. The final stage is having the will to achieve your goal. You decide the option you will take, the action steps to follow and the timeframe/deadline to achieve your goal.
SMART Model
Specific: Goal is clearly identified.
Measurable: Goal has a quantifiable metric to track performance.
Achievable: Goal is within your scope and attainable.
Relevant: The goal fits in with my life right now.
Time based: The goal has a finished date.
There are five stages for this model. I will give an example in how to apply this model for study and exams relating to a university student.
A student wants to achieve a first class honours which is 70% at his end of year exams in May and this will result will help him work for a company he is interested in.
For it to be a specific goal it needs to address the following three points that are shown below with the example of the university student:
1) What: Achieving 70% which is a first class honour.
2) When: End of year exams in May
3) Why: To work for a company they are interested in.
Stage 1: Specific Goal - To achieve a first class honours in my end of year exams in May to help me work for a company I am interested in.
Stage 2: Measurable – There is a metric attached to the goal which makes it measurable which is to achieve 70%.
Stage 3: Achievable – How? Break the goal down and have a plan.
An option for this example is to take notes in class, spent one hour for three nights during the week studying, study 3 hours on a Saturday and Sunday. Weekly study group with friends to discuss each other’s progress and share ideas in helping each other.
Stage 4: Relevant – Does the goal fit in with my life right now?
Goal is relevant as it will provide university student more motivation and confidence to study with the aim for working for a company they are interested on.
Stage 5: Time-Based – When is the deadline to achieve this goal?
End of year exams in May.
You can choose to have someone who can support you in developing your goal. That person can also question and challenge you on your goals to verify that there are no obstacles that have not been considered. Take responsibility for your goals and it might be beneficial to have someone who can hold you accountable in achieving them.
There is no need to put yourself under pressure when working towards your goals. Be gentle and kind with yourself. Adjust your approach if needs be if your situation changes or an action you planned on taking is no longer suited to progress with your goal.
Have fun when working towards your goals and when your goal has been achieved, celebrate your success and accomplishment. Set goals regularly no matter how small or big and you will learn more about yourself by gaining new knowledge and skills along the way.
