5 Characteristics of an Effective Goal
Not to start off on a pessimist not, but how did you do with your goals from LAST year? Do you even remember what they were? Have you stopped setting goals because you KNOW you never hit them?
What if I shared with you a formula of the key components to guarantee that you hit your goals and make the things you want in your life a reality? Interested? Keep reading!
The best way to actually make things happen is to set goals that have the follow characteristics. Even if you think you understand goal setting, use these 5 components as a check on the goals you have set for yourself-do they meet all the criteria?
There are 5 characteristics of an effective goal:
1. Meaningful to You
This seems odd, “why would you set a goal that isn’t meaningful?” But as a coach, I see people do this all the time! Make sure it’s important to YOU and not your boss, your sales leader, your spouse, or your company. If it’s going to be effective, it needs to matter to YOU!
2. Specific, Measurable and has a Due Date
Goals often fall short in this area. Things like, “I’m going to lose weight,” are not specific, measurable, or date specific! Losing 10 pounds by March 31 and maintaining that average weight through December 31 is a goal.
3. TheRight Size
This means it’s big enough that it makes you stretch, but small enough that you can wrap your mind around it.
4. Written Down
An idea is not really a goal until you write it down. Writing down your goals makes the goal concrete, makes you own it, and allows you to do #5, which is….
5. Posted and Reviewed
Put your goal somewhere where you can see it. I find it most effective to simplify your goal into a number, a picture, or anything that will trigger your subconscious toward your goal. You don’t need to re-analyze your goal every day, simply view it again (which is why it is review and not reanalyze!
Once you have a goal set in the correct format, the next step is making a plan to achieve it and sticking to it!
I would love to read what your goals are for the year. Make sure they are in the correct format by following the 5 steps above and then post them as a comment below.
Happy goal hitting!
Be Free!
Leah Simpson
Instructor
I will weigh 165 on May 31, 2010; having contributed 350 pounds to local food banks as a result.
In addition, my waist will be 3″ smaller. I will be weighing in once per week and sharing my results with my family
members. This will be one of my top-5 goals until it is achieved–my top 5 goals are on a 4×6 index card posted
on my car dashboard.
Comment by LBJ — January 2, 2010 @ 9:35 pm
I have always been a fly by the seat of my pants kind of guy. Although I have been some what successful with this approach, I have realized if I don’t write down my goals and have them in front of me everyday, I lose my focus and motivation.
Great tips leah.
Dan
Comment by Dan — May 13, 2010 @ 11:52 pm
Love your comments! Thanks for sharing how you are using goal setting effectively.
Comment by Leah Simpson — May 18, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
i thank you for the information that was given, my goal continuosly interupts my atmosphere it is my drive my motivation, my escalation, it bombards my mind, it also establish my going out and my coming in. it is nourishment to my soul and just when i have think that i have lost it, it evades my domain. i have written my goals down before and preceded to go forth and proven to be successful but i have a long way to go. but thank god i am ever so close to my destination.
Comment by anthony p watkins — January 5, 2011 @ 11:08 pm
My goal is write down my goal! I willhave this accomplished by Feb.14TH!
There, you have my first goal written already!
Comment by Jackie — January 23, 2012 @ 1:20 pm