“A goal without a plan is just wish”
Are you one of those people that struggles setting goals and achieving them?
This is a very basic ‘How To’ guide on setting effective goals for yourself. I’ve used this framework at work and in my personal life.
– Write the goals down! A goal that isn’t written down is just a wish. Once you’ve written them down you have basically made a contract with yourself. You can then hold yourself accountable.
– Set goals that aren’t controlled by external factors. For example, a goal that says ‘Getting a Job’ is a goal which you have no control over as there are so many external factors that could impact that goal (job market, other candidates, different companies, etc). On the other hand ‘Reading up on the job’ is a good goal because you can control the outcome.
– Give the goal a deadline. Without a deadline, a goal just becomes something that is never achieved. You need a date to work towards. Again, it keeps you accountable and focused.
– Whatever the goal is, you need to be able to accurately track your progress, so you can judge when a goal will be met. The goal should therefore be easily measurable. For example, a goal of ‘apply for 5 jobs in my relevant field’ is measurable over time.
– make the goal achievable. Setting a goal of ‘I want to be President’ isn’t really achievable (unless you’re a billionaire). Setting unrealistic goals ultimately saps your enthusiasm and motivation.
Keep these things in mind and you’ll stand a much better chance of achieving your goals
If you need help doing this, then this is one of my favourite things to do with my clients, as the rewards that come from it can be amazing!