Starting a career as a Life Planner involves a lot of self-discipline and time management - another important skill to develop as you are venturing into this career is effective goal setting. Many people find themselves in a difficult situation, where they work hard and put in a lot of effort but achieve little results.
Why do we need to set goals?
Sometimes, it is not enough to work hard. In fact, sometimes we spend a lot of time on tasks that may seem important but may not contribute to achieving our goals. This is where effective goal setting comes in handy.
What is effective goal setting?
Effective goal setting is a process that helps us not only identify our goals, but also teaches us how we can set goals that will be measurable and achievable. There are several methods that can help us improve our goal setting techniques known as SMART(ER) goal setting. The SMART goal setting method is not a new concept. It has been around since 1981 and has since evolved to include two more steps which we will explore later in this article.
Here is how we can set achievable goals:
Before we set goals, we need to make sure they are specific. A vague or unclear goal may slowly lose its significance which will reduce the chances of it being met. A specific goal takes a close look at the details - it should include answers to very specific questions such as what is it that needs to be accomplished, when should the goal be achieved, who is involved in the goal or the process and even why is the goal important.
The second criteria of an effective goal is one that is measurable. Specific numbers or targets should be set to make it a goal that is not only measurable but also achievable. For example, if you are a new Life Planner, set goals that have clear numbers for yourself, for example, “I want to meet 3 new people every day this week.” This will give you a clear indication of how many meetings you need to set up and by the end of the week, you would be able to measure how far you have come in achieving the goal.
In terms of setting goals, it is also important to ensure that the goals you set can be achieved and are also realistic. If we use a similar example, setting a goal of meeting 15 new people every day for the whole month, which is a whopping 450 people in a month may not be achievable. If you are unsure, learn more from your leaders, they may have benchmarks and track records that you can emulate. The more realistic your goals are, the higher the chance of you following through and achieving them.
Lastly, your goals also need to be tie bound-a goal that does not come with specific deadlines will not give you the right motivation to achieve them. For example, as a Life Planner, you will be looking at specific targets to achieve on a weekly or monthly basis.
An effective goal is one that gives you the clarity to choose the tasks that are critical to your success. They motivate you and keep you disciplined and responsible to see through your goals through. When you set effective goals, you will no longer struggle with motivation and you will also remain focused on your path to success.
Sources:
1. What is a SMART Goal? Retrieved from: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/
2. Tony Robbins’ Secrets for Effective Goal Setting. Retrieved from: https://www.success.com/tony-robbins-goals/
1. Effective goals: Why are They So Important. Retrieved from: https://www.coachingpositiveperformance.com/effective-goals-important/
