Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By avoiding the goal setting traps you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to do. So let's take a look at some of the biggest traps that need to be avoided.
1. Your goals don't motivate you. This first trap seems obvious but a lot of people fall into the giver role and set goals to appease others. If you are not motivated by your goal it will be hard and near impossible to achieve. If you have set the goal for yourself but you genuinely don't have interest in the outcome or the goal is extraneous to your larger goals, putting work into it may fall by the wayside. Goals require your attention and commitment; if you feel unmotivated by them it is unlikely you will put the time in necessary to achieve them. Without motivation you will lack focus and without focus the tasks needed to fulfil your goal may keep getting pushed aside for something else. So you must you really ask yourself, does your goal motivate you?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Set specific goals. Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way.
Set measurable goals. Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of success. If your goal is simply defined as "be healthier" how will you know when you have been successful? Without a way to measure your success you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something.
Setting achievable goals can be tricky for some. You want to set goals that are challenging and not met too easily but you also need to be realistic. If you set yourself an unrealistic goal you may have no hope in attaining, especially if it is something out of your control, and you are setting yourself up for failure. Setting yourself up for failure will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and eat away at your self-confidence. On the contrary, if your goal is too easily achieved you may feel disappointed once you do accomplish it because you did not have to work that hard for it. This disappointment may pave the way later for a resistance in setting goals since you did not receive the feeling of triumph you expected. By finding the balance between realism and challenge, you set yourself up for a demanding climb but a rewarding pay out.
Set relevant goals. Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time - and your life - away.
You have no deadline. You must be aware of your successes in order to maintain a good self-image. Having time-based objectives keep you working with a sense of urgency that will find your progress coming that much more quickly.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You didn't make an action plan. This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.
5. Your goals do not allow for your skill level. Although ensuring your goals are quantifiable is important, language such as "shed 20 lbs" or "win first place" can be discouraging. If you are able to shed five lbs, you've achieved something that many are unable to do - but if you're only celebrating your success when you hit the 20 mark, you lose your ability to see the successes you are making along the way by feeling you've failed yourself. Understand that there may be delays or that larger goals may take some time. If you get third place, have you failed? Or, is this an important step - and possibly and important lesson as well - along the way?
6. You've simply given up. Remember, goals may shift as you learn something new about your path, or if certain deliverables become impossible. Even just a few minutes a week spent editing your goals and re-aligning them to your big-picture desires will help to keep you on track. Your goals will grow with you - they shouldn't work against you. When you stop to review your goals, be sure that they are still relevant to you, important to your progress, and maintain your sense of urgency. Never give up - if your goals outgrow you, they must be readjusted!
1. Your goals don't motivate you. This first trap seems obvious but a lot of people fall into the giver role and set goals to appease others. If you are not motivated by your goal it will be hard and near impossible to achieve. If you have set the goal for yourself but you genuinely don't have interest in the outcome or the goal is extraneous to your larger goals, putting work into it may fall by the wayside. Goals require your attention and commitment; if you feel unmotivated by them it is unlikely you will put the time in necessary to achieve them. Without motivation you will lack focus and without focus the tasks needed to fulfil your goal may keep getting pushed aside for something else. So you must you really ask yourself, does your goal motivate you?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Set specific goals. Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way.
Set measurable goals. Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of success. If your goal is simply defined as "be healthier" how will you know when you have been successful? Without a way to measure your success you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something.
Setting achievable goals can be tricky for some. You want to set goals that are challenging and not met too easily but you also need to be realistic. If you set yourself an unrealistic goal you may have no hope in attaining, especially if it is something out of your control, and you are setting yourself up for failure. Setting yourself up for failure will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and eat away at your self-confidence. On the contrary, if your goal is too easily achieved you may feel disappointed once you do accomplish it because you did not have to work that hard for it. This disappointment may pave the way later for a resistance in setting goals since you did not receive the feeling of triumph you expected. By finding the balance between realism and challenge, you set yourself up for a demanding climb but a rewarding pay out.
Set relevant goals. Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time - and your life - away.
You have no deadline. You must be aware of your successes in order to maintain a good self-image. Having time-based objectives keep you working with a sense of urgency that will find your progress coming that much more quickly.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You didn't make an action plan. This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.
5. Your goals do not allow for your skill level. Although ensuring your goals are quantifiable is important, language such as "shed 20 lbs" or "win first place" can be discouraging. If you are able to shed five lbs, you've achieved something that many are unable to do - but if you're only celebrating your success when you hit the 20 mark, you lose your ability to see the successes you are making along the way by feeling you've failed yourself. Understand that there may be delays or that larger goals may take some time. If you get third place, have you failed? Or, is this an important step - and possibly and important lesson as well - along the way?
6. You've simply given up. Remember, goals may shift as you learn something new about your path, or if certain deliverables become impossible. Even just a few minutes a week spent editing your goals and re-aligning them to your big-picture desires will help to keep you on track. Your goals will grow with you - they shouldn't work against you. When you stop to review your goals, be sure that they are still relevant to you, important to your progress, and maintain your sense of urgency. Never give up - if your goals outgrow you, they must be readjusted!
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HelpMeToStudy.org is the premier online resource for learning new study skills, transforming your study habits and discovering the best study tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Goal Setting Success
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