By Alison Heyerdahl

“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal.  The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” – Benjamin Mays

Have you ever been in awe of someone who has lost a significant amount of weight or of those intrepid explorers who climb Mount Everest?  Many of us are inspired by these seemingly impossible feats of human determination.  

Anyone that succeeds in any exploit almost certainly follows a predefined set of goals.  Goal-setting is an essential tool for self-motivation and self-drivenness.  It gives us a roadmap of where we are heading and which way would lead us there.  It is a plan that holds us in perspective.  According to Rick McDaniel, “Goal-setters see future possibilities and the big picture.”

In fact, research has long established the connection between goal-setting and success.  This article will outline the benefits of goal-setting and how goal-setting influences our decision-making. 

What is goal-setting?

Interestingly, many people know what they would like to achieve but don't often set defined goals.  For example, if your goal is to lose weight, how will you know when your goal has been achieved? When you've lost one pound? Ten? Forty? 

Goal setting refers to an achievable plan of action.  It guides us to choose the right moves, at the right time, and in the correct sequence.  Frank L. Smoll, a psychologist at the University of Washington emphasized the three key features of goal-setting, which he named the A-B-C goals.  He says that goals need to be:

• A – Achievable

• B – Believable

• C – Committed

Furthering this research, George T. Duran coined the S-M-A-R-T rules.  It is still widely used in psychological and life coaching circles.  The acronym stands for:

• S (Specific) – Goals should be focused on a very specific, well-defined, and unambiguous action.  For example, “I want to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks.”

• M (Measurable) – You should be able to measure your progress towards accomplishing the goal.  For example, “I will weigh myself weekly to see how much weight I’ve lost.”

• A (Achievable) – Do not set goals that are too far out of your reach – they should be attainable.  For example, “I will lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks, rather than in 2 weeks.”

• R (Realistic) – They should be realizable and relevant to your life purpose. They should also be practical and applicable to one's current life circumstances. For example, “I want to lose 10 pounds so that I can fit into my clothes again.”

• T (Time-bound) – Setting a specific timeframe in which a goal should be achieved is pertinent to its success.  It also makes the goal more focused.  For example, setting a timeframe of 10 weeks to lose weight means that you are more likely to achieve this goal.

Whether your goals are for personal or professional advancement, using SMART goals can create a strong foundation for success.  It sets boundaries and defines the steps you should take, the resources you will need to get there, and the milestones that will indicate your progress. 

What are the benefits of setting goals?

• Goal-setting provides direction for your life.  It gives you a defined direction in which to aim your efforts.  The helps guide you to where you want to be. 

• It gives you a sense of empowerment and control over your future.  Instead of aimlessly drifting along, you have more control over where you want to go and how you will get there.

• It provides a clear focus on what you believe is essential in life.  Before setting goals, you should first think about your values and what you want to accomplish in life.  Taking the time to reflect on your goals and aspirations will help you center on what’s important to you.  Denis Watley said, “ The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable.  Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.”

Goal setting helps us trigger new behaviors, guide our focus, and achieve momentum in our lives.  It also helps to promote a sense of self-mastery.

The Four Steps to Successful Goal Setting:

1. Create a plan 

   The first step in successful goal-setting is making a plan.  Having a well-thought-out plan based on the SMART principles makes the formation of a habit easier.  It will guide your focus and outline the specifics steps that need to be taken to achieve the goal.  Writing your goals down makes them real and tangible, making it less likely that you will forget about them.

2. Explore the resources available to help you achieve your goals

   Your resources may include asking for expert advice, educating yourself on a particular topic, or investing in specialized equipment.  Perform a thorough assessment so that you are aware of the knowledge gaps and physical resources you may require to see your goals realized. 

3. Accountability

   Having a reliable and invested accountability partner makes the process so much easier.  We often perform better when somebody else watching over us, ensuring that we stick to our commitments.  An accountability partner is someone other than yourself who knows what you need to do or what you want to achieve.  Accountability gives you further incentive to see your goals realized. 

4. Use rewards and feedback

   Rewards have also been proven effective for helping us stick to goals.  For example, managers who provide feedback to their employees and teammates will have better-performing teams than ones who don't regularly interact with employees about their progress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, goal-setting is an essential and powerful process for seeing your dreams realized.  In order to be successful in the goal-setting process, you should set SMART goals.  These goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realizable, and time-bound.  Goals help provide direction and give you a sense of control over your life.  They also provide insight into what your values and priorities are. 

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