“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success”, said Pablo Picasso.
Goal setting is the process of taking active and well-planned steps to achieve a desired outcome (goal). Goals can be long term or short term. Short term goals can work as steps to achieving long term goals. Goals help us to get guidance and direction, facilitate planning and are motivational and inspiring. They help people to focus their efforts, stay on track, and measure their progress.
When setting goals, remember to keep them personal, possible, positive and prioritized. Personal and positive goals are all about you, your dreams and desires. They help to give you a sense of responsibility and you will be in total control of everything concerning the achievement of the goals. Positivity keeps the drive to achieve high. prioritizing your goals means that you start with most important ones for you cannot focus on too many goals at the same time.
GOAL SETTING TIPS.
- set both short- and long-term goals
- set SMART goals
- set goals that motivate and inspire you
- write your goals down and put them in a place you can see
- adjust your goals as necessary
- Recognize and reward yourself when you meet a goal
WHAT ARE SMART GOALS?
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time based.
- specific – highly detailed statement on what you want to accomplish; ask yourself on who, what, where, how etc.)
- Measurable- how will you demonstrate and evaluate how your goal has been met (Key Performance Indicators)?
- Attainable- make sure your goals are within your ability to achieve
- Relevant- how does your goals align with your objectives?
- Time based- set 1 or more target dates- (include deadlines)
After setting your smart goals, develop a plan of action. Break down the set goals into manageable steps and set a deadline for completion. A plan of action indicates what needs to be done, by when, why and how. Track and keep records of the progress and revise your goals every now and then to see where modification is needed.
KEY PRINCIPLES FOR ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS.
Commitment: passion and determination to reach the goal – even when faced with obstacles. You should possess the desire and understanding of what is required to achieve your goal.
Challenging: attaining challenging goals can help boost our motivation and sense of purpose.
Complexity: your abilities and skills should match the complexity of your goals so as to keep you motivated and productive.
Feedback: helps you to see how far you are from achieving your goals and gives room for evaluation of the process and progress.