GOAL-SETTING MODELS
In order to achieve the goals we set for ourselves, they need to meet
certain criteria.
Goal-setting is not as easy as deciding to do something and then doing it; there are a lot of steps involved that take you from where you are to where you want to be. Many days, weeks, months, or even years may pass before you reach the goal you set for yourself. Things can get in the way (actually, things are almost guaranteed to get in the way), requiring determination and stamina to overcome these challenges.
Your goal needs to be dynamic as it may change over time, shifting to accommodate adjustments in your life, your mindset, and your wants and needs.
So how does one go about setting a goal that remains concrete enough to motivate and empower while flexible enough to change over time? And most importantly, how will you know when you've reached your goal?
Below is one of the most common models for goal setting: the SMART model.
SMART
SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. By following the SMART goal method, you are more likely to check off all of the things that a good goal requires to keep it motivating, dynamic, and measurable.
Your goal needs to be specific
To avoid wasting energy, you need to be able to define exactly what you want to accomplish. The more precisely you define your goal, the less confusion there will be about what you need to accomplish in order to reach it.
Tip: try answering the 5 W's when outlining what it is you want to accomplish. What is the goal? Where will it take place? Who will be involved? When will it be accomplished? Most importantly, why is it important?
Your goal needs to be measurable
If you can't measure your progress, how will you know when you've accomplished what you've set out to do or when you've gone off-track?
A measurable goal includes smaller steps that, when completed, work together to support that larger goal or bring you closer to that goal.
Make sure that you include the measures by which you will judge your progress as you work towards your goal. Let's use weight loss as an (oft overused) example: let's say the goal is to lose 10 pounds (what) within 6 months (when) because it will make you happier and improve your overall health (why). To accomplish this, you might enlist the help of a personal trainer (who) and attend a gym (where). You might choose to measure your success in pounds, or blood pressure, or muscle mass, or even confidence or overall happiness. Your smaller goals might include eating more vegetables - let's say at least one type of vegetable every day; going on a 30-minute walk every day outside of gym time; and getting a good night's sleep every night.
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Your goal is attainable
Do you have access to the resources that are required to obtain the results that you want? Depending on your goal, a resource could refer to time, money, social support, emotional resilience, control, guidance, etc. Making sure that you have the resources you need in order to accomplish this goal is key – you can't drive a car with a tire missing!
Your goal is relevant
It is here that "smart" becomes more than an acronym. What is the bigger picture here? Is your goal consistent with your long-term objectives and other things that you want to accomplish in your life or in your business? Do you have access to the resources that are required to obtain the results that you want? Does it suit your immediate and long-term plans? Is it meaningful and in line with your values, dreams, and passion?
Your goal should have value to you, and reaching it should further support your vision for yourself and your life.
Your goal is time-bound
SMART goals hold you accountable. When they fail to adhere to timelines or deadlines, it's easy to put off things and set tasks aside for you to do "later".
Set realistic deadlines for your goals. Make sure that you give yourself enough time to actually complete what you want to do, and that you don't sacrifice the quality of your work in the name of doing something faster. Set deadlines for each step/task that is required to reach Normally, smaller tasks can be completed quickly and can be assigned a stricter deadline than a larger one.
Your goal should have value and support your vision for yourself and your life.
Your goal is reviewed often
Things change. It's important to review your goal often, not only to make sure that you are still on the right track but also to make sure that your goal is still relevant and that it still fits within the framework of the bigger picture of your future.
Where to go from here
Now that you are familiar with the SMART model of goal-setting, check out the following articles:
Courses that relate to goal setting:
If you want to take a deeper dive into goal setting, really drill down and identify what you want out of your life, take one of BizAcademi's online courses
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