Goal Setting - a uselful tool or another to do list
By Fiona Cosgrove
Goal-setting has been a buzz word in the corporate world for some years now. Like all popular ideas, it can be enormously helpful but when overdone, produce the opposite result. Some people now cringe when the word “goal” is mentioned. Goals have to be measurable (amongst other things), but in measuring we assume success or failure. When we fail to reach goals, the end result is disappointment and undermined confidence.
So what is the purpose of setting goals?
Firstly, to use the well-worn expression – without a map we don’t know where we’re going and we certainly won’t know when we’ve got there. Lily Tomlin once said “I always wanted to be someone, I just wish I’d been more precise” which is a strong argument in favour of describing accurately what it is you want. There is a mass of literature expounding the benefits of goals and describing how they should be written. Again, too much can overwhelm people and produce the opposite result.
If you feel you need more direction in your life, then setting a few goals, or creating an “action plan” will be useful but guidelines are a good idea.
The following tips may help:
Make your goals your goals, not someone elses.
Why? So you have ownership. A common problem is that the majority of work goals have been set by someone else. Ask yourself, “What do you really want?” Don’t fall into the habit of judging your success or failure by either media driven expectations or someone elses agenda. Come up with your own definition of success.
Make your goals meaningful and exciting
The only way you will get commitment to your goals is if they have meaning and importance to you. Try and imagine what it would be like when you have achieved those goals. If that doesn’t get you excited, try thinking what it would be like if the alternative continues. Is that what you want? What will not achieving the goal do to your life? How will goal achievement affect other areas of your life? Create a vision of the future.
A fun exercise to do is to write a list of 50 things to do before I die. You may be surprised by what comes up. Make sure the list is about enjoyment, not duty.
Make your goals specific and measurable
“Ours is a world where people don’t know what they want and are willing to go through hell to get it”. Don Marquis, 1878-1937.
Getting fitter” or “being financially independent” are not specific goals. How do you know when you have achieved them? Describe what fitness means to you. How will you know when you are fitter? What will you be able to do? What does financial independence mean? How much do you need to allow this to happen?
Write your goal around what you will be doing, not just what you will get
Goals often suggest that our life will change when we achieve them. This is possibly true. An outcome goal describes an end result. A process goal describes something that will continue to happen after the goal has been achieved. For example – losing 5kg is an outcome goal. Eating breakfast and planning meals that are low in fat and nutritionally balanced is a way of living. When you write your goals, make a process goal tie in with the outcome goal. To go back to “financial independence” – an outcome goal. “I will be living on the interest from my investments” – process goal.
Make your goals well-balanced
It is tempting to set goals in our professional lives and let our personal lives “evolve”. We forget that to live life to the full we occasionally have to create change in our personal lives and place as much importance on it as our working hours. Make sure that you have as many personal as professional goals.
Your goals need to be flexible
Life is full of changes. Our priorities change and challenges arise. You may move quicker than you thought in one direction or struggle with unforeseen obstacles. Be prepared to amend your goals to fit in with changing circumstances.
Avoid life being a goal
Goals make us look towards the future. Which is a good thing. But never forget that the most important thing is what’s going on right now. If we forget to notice or enjoy the present, we live our lives in constant anticipation of “when this happens, life will get better”. Cultivate mindfulness of the present and let the future unfold, with a bit of help from you, but knowing that not everything is under our control.
Fiona Cosgrove has over 20 years experience in the wellness & fitness industry - owning and managing clubs in Australia and Asia, including No 1 Martin Place, NSW Fitness Centre of the Year, 2006. Fiona is the author of Coach Yourself to Wellness and she regularly runs corporate seminars and workshops in the areas of healthy lifestyle, motivation and wellness.