Setting goals you can achieve

We set goals to decide on our long-term vision and to provide ourselves with short-term motivation along the way. Goals allow us to measure forward progress and take pride in achievements. They give us something to work toward that’s bigger than just completing tasks so we can see forward progress in what might otherwise seem a pointless grind. As early as the 1960’s, two psychologists, Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, “found that specific, difficult goals consistently led to higher performance”.

But it’s important to set goals that you can really accomplish. It’s not that you shouldn’t stretch for an ambitious long term goal, but setting an impossible goal can result in disheartening failure. Instead, break those stretch goals into intermediate steps that move you in the direction you want to go.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Unfortunately, people often give up on ambitious goals at the first stumble. This is referred to as the “what the hell effect“.  Many times, when we act counter to our goals early in the day, we think we might as well take the rest of the day off. And then – what the hell – one day off turns into a week off turns into forever. To prevent giving up after a stumble, it’s important to build up “emergency reserves,” according to Wharton’s Marissa Sharif, by allowing wiggle room for occasional missteps. When we understand that we will occasionally stumble – and actually plan for it – we feel like we’re still on track.

I recommend that every person develop long term, stretch goals in four areas: “Career”, “Spiritual”, “Artistic”, and “Physical”. Then break down each large goal one into smaller, more manageable goals that can be accomplished in reasonable time periods. Where do I want to be in five-years? What can I do in the next year to get there? In the next six-months? In the next month? This week? Today!

SMART Goals

Once you have these goals in mind, write each down as a positive statement. Remember to dream big, but plan small. Break your big goals into manageable steps and including room for occasional missteps. Then use the SMART goal technique to test each goal:

• Specific – What do I want to accomplish? Why? Who else might I need to accomplish it? What resources do I need?
• Measurable – How will I know when my goal is accomplished?
• Achievable – Does this goal stretch my abilities but remain possible?
• Relevant – Is this goal worthwhile to me? Is this the right time? Am I the right person?
• Timely – What is my deadline for accomplishing this goal?

Focus on goals that are related to your own performance not specific outcomes. Outcomes depend on outside influences or involve other people and therefore are outside your control. You can control your own performance, so try to stick to that. I created a planning worksheet to help you think through your goals and how you might reach them: