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Tips for Setting Realistic Goals
Setting goals is not as simple as writing down on a piece of paper what you will be doing in the next couple of weeks nor is it something as general as telling people you will be a super star someday. It does not end in identifying your goals and giving voice to them. That is only the start. The hard part is making that goal happen and part of that is making sure that you have set your goals right.
Goals are only effective if they are done the right way. If not, it will not help you at all and worse, may even make you lose your spirit and de-motivate you. Goals that are poorly set or incorrectly made have disappointed people and have made them lose confidence in themselves. Below are some tips on how you can make goal setting work for you.
1. Make sure that your goals are specific.
It is important that when you set your goals, you make it as specific as you can. Too general goals do not motivate people perhaps because it does not tell you what to do next. This is actually the reason why people even make sub goals for goals because they want to be as specific and as detailed as possible. Knowing what you need to do will help you map out an action plan. It is also easier to do and you will remember it.
2. Put a deadline
Goals must have some deadline to it. This is especially true for people who are addicted to the adrenaline rush that deadline and crunch time gives to people. a time-frame also allows people to manage their time and to plan for their next courses of action. This gives them the chance to fix their schedules so they can allot time for the goal. Having a deadline also motivates people to act immediately and to work faster so that they can make it to the deadline.
In setting a deadline, make sure that the time period is reasonable. Give yourself enough time to accomplish the goal. This is partly the reason why some people create sub goals. Breaking down a huge goal into smaller pieces can give you shorter time period.
3. Make it within your abilities
Setting a goal means that it is something that you can accomplish and achieve. Otherwise, you will put it as some dream or wish. Thus, in setting goals make sure that what you put in are achievable and realistic. Goals that are impossible to do or accomplish will only frustrate the person and make them lose their spirit because it makes them feel that they are not capable enough to accomplish the goal when in truth, it is unattainable in the first place.
4. Make sure that you give feedback or are given feedback
Part of the benefit of setting goals is the sense of accomplishment that one gets when one has checked off one item in your list. Thus, it is important that your goals are measurable, that you know when you have accomplished the goal. It is also good to give yourself feedback and a pat on the back for a job well done.
Why Set Goals?
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a manager or a student, goal setting is essential, especially if you want to do something with your life and accomplish something significant.
Thus corporations have spent money hiring experts in goal setting so that their employees will know how to set goals for themselves. Goals are very important in increasing productivity and accomplishing their jobs on time. In these seminars, people are taught to set goals that are S-M-A-R-T. SMART refers to goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Setting goals is not as simple as writing down what you need to accomplish. It needs to have certain elements in order to become more effective.
Goals need to be spelled out in specific details. Vague goals or those that are too general do not help people in accomplishing their goals. The same goes with goals that are impossible to accomplish and those whose result cannot be measured. For a goal to be motivating, it must give immediate feedback. That way, people will know if they have already accomplished the goal. Also, it is important that people assign a time-frame for their goal. This motivates them to act immediately and to manage their time well.
Goal setting is important because it gives people a direction. People that set their goals at the start will have better chance of achieving their goals than those who have no goals at all because they know what they want to accomplish. They do not leave their achievements to chance. They make things happen according to a plan that they have mapped out for themselves.
Goal setting also motivates people. This is especially true for people who only start a project but rarely finishes them. With goal setting they can break down a huge task into smaller and easier to manage tasks that they can finish at shorter amount of time. Goal setting also gives people the chance to plan their actions and to choose the right time to do them. Thus, tasks are easily fitted into their schedules and are more manageable.
This is also advantageous to people who are easily intimidated by big projects or those who believe that they cannot take on seemingly impossible tasks. Goal setting can help break down a big project to smaller projects so the person can accomplish the goal piece by piece. That way, they will not be overwhelmed by a task that seems daunting at first. Breaking down goals to sub goals also give the person the opportunity to delegate some of the works that need to be done to people who are more capable and willing to do them.
Setting goals is also recommended to people who have a lot on their plates and would want to be able to squeeze it as much time for every aspects of their lives. Goals give them a map on what they have to do and also serves as a reminder so they will not forget any responsibility that they may have.
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