Clearly defined goals are essential to success. If you don’t have a plan of your own you’re going to be part of someone else’s. Here are five rules for effective goal-setting.
1) Goals must be clear. For example, deciding you’re going to improve your communication skills is meaningless unless you also determine the steps you’re going to take, such as identifying courses in which to enrol, books to read, and how you intend to increase your vocabulary. People with clear goals and definite ideas about how to achieve them are far more apt to keep progressing than those who don’t. Unclear goals breed apathy, inaction and eventual failure.
2) Goals need timetables. Goals without timetables are just wishes.You have to decide when you’re going to enrol in those courses, when you’re going to buy and read those books, and how many words a week you’re going to add to your vocabulary. Reaching goals on time is not always easy, so timetables can be revised when there’s a valid reason to do so; but procrastination isn’t one.
3) Goals must be realistic. Ambition is a good thing, and it’s fine to have to stretch a bit to reach a goal. But it’s expectations that cause frustration, so if your goals are set unreasonably high you’ll become a victim of it. Aim high enough to stretch yourself but not so high that you prematurely give up hope. Realistic goals will keep you moving in the right direction and provide gratification rather than frustration. Set a reasonable goal, and when it’s reached set another one a little higher.
4) Both short-term and long-term goals are needed. Long-term goals should be capable of being broken down into compatible, less ambitious short-term goals. Short-term goals are needed to maintain momentum and discipline and to keep you from being overly disillusioned by setbacks. If setbacks start to get you down, set some simpler short-term goals and work your way back up. Your objectives, not events, should set your agenda. When you take your eye off your objective, obstacles become more difficult to overcome. It’s a good idea to reward yourself when a short-term goal is reached.
5) Goals should be personal. Wise people don’t waste time and energy on pursuits for which they aren’t suited; and they are wiser still who resolutely pursue the things they enjoy and do best. No goal should ever involve topping others. Because you’ll never know enough about others to make accurate assessments, constantly comparing yourself to them is just a distraction. Goals should be only about topping yourself.
If you’re having trouble developing a cohesive goal-setting framework, try planning ninety-day segments over a one-year period. Start by asking yourself what has to happen over the next twelve months to prevent you from looking back and saying, “I wish I had” or “I wish I hadn’t.” Think about the last year or so and analyze your accomplishments and disappointments. What would you change? Consider: health, free time, career, finances and relationships (some people have too many; others not enough). Pretend you’re going to have a press conference ninety days from now to discuss your goals, the steps you’re taking to reach them, and how things are going. Think about what you’ll want to say and then plan and act accordingly. Do it again in another ninety days.