The most efficient way to set goals, either personal, professional or health related, is to follow the SMART formula. SMART is an acronym for Specfic, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding and Time-based. The SMART theory was pioneered by Dr. Edwin Locke, who studied goal setting and motivation in workplaces. He said that employees were motivated by clear goals and feedback. He added that working toward a goal was a source of motivation to reach the goal. This, in turn, improved performance. Building upon Locke's work, Dr. Gary Latham worked with Locke and they reinforced the idea that it's important to set specific and difficult goals, as opposed to vague and easy goals.
Stick to five ideas to define set your goal.
Step 1
Goals are about motivation, and to motivate, goals must be clear, challenging, require regular commitment, inspire feedback and be complex, not vague or impossible. A clear goal is measurable and specific. So, "I want to lose 10 pounds in a month" is better than "I really must lose some weight." You also be careful about setting a goal that is challenging, but also realistic. "I'd like to be competent in French after a year's language study" is challenging, but "I want to quickly study and learn French in my sleep in a week," is unrealistic. You also have to commit to your goal, setting aside so many hours a day or week to work toward it. Feedback is vital because it measures your progress. And complexity is important because it allows you to break down the goal into smaller steps, and provides a realistic deadline to complete the task. There are no shortcuts.
Step 2
Write it down. Ask yourself, and answer, the following questions. What is my specific goal and who and what will it involve? How will I measure the outcome of my goal? Is my goal attainable? Am I capable of doing it and getting a result? Is my goal relevant to me and does it "fit" the things I am doing to achieve that goal? Finally, what is my deadline? Is it realistic? Are you slacking, giving yourself too much time, or are you trying to do a rush job?
Step 3
Know the difference between a goal and a dream. This it is why it is so important for your goal to be attainable. So, yes, you can do an evening class in aerodynamics, but you will probably not become an astronaut. Wanting a promotion at work is desirable and achievable, becoming CEO of the company might be more of a dream. Think goals, not outcomes. Being a millionaire is an outcome. Increasing your business turnover and efficiency is realistic and just might lead to greater income. When you write down your list, make sure you stick to specifics: you will have achieved this amount by this time.
Step 4
Where do you get the feedback? This depends on your goal. If it's a personal health-related issue, such as weight loss, the scales will not lie. If it's a work-oriented goal, ask your mentor or line manager to support and evaluate you at regular intervals. Feedback is vital when your goal is long term. You may have setbacks, so you need a personal cheerleader or life coach to affirm you are on the right track. Make sure your mentor is not someone who is more on your side than you are. You need realistic feedback, not unrealistically positive feedback if you have not been doing well. That said, you need someone who will tell you it is a setback, not a failure.
Step 5
Do not push yourself to the point of burnout. A complex task or goal is better than a vague one, but you must strike a balance between something that becomes so overwhelming it takes over your life, and something that is set in a realistic time frame to learn the skills needed to meet your goal, and to have a better chance of success.
Tips and Warnings
- You can achieve goals by yourself, but it's easier if you have a mentor or life coach to assess your progress and give you feedback. Don't set your goals too high. Yes, you can probably get a promotion at work with effort, dedication and feedback, but you will probably not become president of the USA.
- Be kind to yourself. Give yourself small, appropriate rewards after you reach some milestone in achieving your goal, but make sure it is not anti-goal. For example, rewarding yourself with a big slice of cake for weight loss is not good. Rewarding yourself with a facial or new outfit for weight loss is a good thing.
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