WRITE YOUR GOAL/OUTCOME IN A SPECIFIC FORMAT
A goal consists of things an individual would like to attain within a given period. There are basically two type of goals which are;
Primary goals
Primary goals are the main things an individual intends to achieve. These can be found at the infant stages of the goal attainment process. Primary goalscan also be termed as influence goals because they show a way how one may impact another person. The primary goals are; change orientation, gain assistance, change relationships, share activity, get permits and implement obligations and rights.
Secondary goals
Secondary goals are the actions a person takes in aid of achieving the primary goals. They are as a result of the primary targets. Therefore if there are no primary goals, then there are no secondary ones. These secondary goals include; personal resources, relational resources, affect management, conversation management, and identity.
An outcome is a consequence of a particular action, or in other words, it’s a goal that you would like to achieve. A well-formed outcome is a term used to refer to an outcome that you wish to achieve and that meets certain conditions. These conditions are designed to avoid unintended costs or consequences and resistance to attain the goal resulting from internal resistance feelings or thoughts about the outcome. It is integrated with all aspects of life and has a process of accomplishment that respects and supports the current circumstances in life. By applying all the conditions to a goal or outcome, and adjusting the specifications accordingly, then you create a well-formed outcome.
The following conditions should be applied when writing an outcome/ goal:
• specific
These goals must be precisely and clearly defined. They should not be vague, and boundaries should be well set.
• Time-based
The outcomes and goals should be within a particular time-scale. They should have starting dates and deadlines.
• Measurable
You should define a method of measuring the outcomes/ goals. Some of the measurement methods may not be available; thus, you should choose wisely.
• Moving towards pleasure
It should be achievable and one that makes sense. The goal should align with the rest of the things, and something useful should be attained out of it. Once achieved, it can be evidenced in a way that can be seen, heard, or felt.
DETERMINE DATES AND MEASUREMENTS
Starting dates
You should take action as soon as the goals have been set.
Ending dates
The plans and outcomes you list should have a specific deadline.
Measurement types
To determine the level of success of what you want to achieve, you must be able to measure your progress. The measurements can help you see how you are coming along and become motivated to stick to the plan.
Five methods can measure your progress. They include;
1. Facts and figures
Quantitative measurements are more comfortable and precise than qualitative ones. For a majority of the goals that you set, you will find a way to quantify the progress. For example, if you are saving money or dieting, you can track the progress by the dollars saved or pounds lost.
2. Stay on plan
You may have some goals that can be achieved quickly and with ease. However, for the remainder of the goals, you may need a plan that allows you to break them into sub-goals. The sub-goals can then be put into a time frame that lets you measure your progress. This is a perfect way to be organized; thus, you can determine the priority of your tasks when you have a plan. The reason for having a plan is to monitor your progress. However, there are times when plans can change. When this happens, consider carefully whether it is necessary to change the plan.
3. Keep a record
Keeping a record of your progress, accompanied by some personal notes, can be referred to whenever a problem arises. If you fail to meet your targets, you need to know the reasons why it happened and take the best course of action. Also, if you are try something, and it works, then you can make a record of it.
Whenever you want to do a similar thing again, you can refer to the records on the information regarding what worked and what did not work. With this valuable information, you can create the best plan possible.
4. Checklist
The moment you create a plan for achieving your goals, you will have a list of tasks that need to be completed at the specified time. This list forms an invaluable checklist. You can tick off the checklist whenever you are through with a task and note the date as well. When you review your progress for the goal, you can measure the progress and identify the necessary corrective action that needs to be taken. The checklist motivates you to achieve the goals and boost your confidence.
5. Rate your progress
There will always be goals that cannot use quantitative methods to measure your progress. These goals are qualitative by nature. You can keep track of the progress by creating a rating system. You can decide on which numbers to use on the system, and the most common ones are 1-5 or 1-10. For this to effectively work, there should be a definition of each point on the scale. You can even plot your scores on a graph to show a visual representation of your progress.
Once you determined the appropriate method to measure your progress, you should set up the system that measures your progress. You can only make an essential decision once you know where you stand. To see where you stand, you must measure your progress.
Starting and ending metrics
Metrics are standards of measurement that capture the efficacy, performance, or quality of a plan. They help keep track of the progress.
There are four steps to better goals and metrics;
1) Communicate how the goal line is chosen for your assistants.
2) Communicate the importance of hitting a goal to those related to it.
3) Choose a metric-driven goal.
4) Push the metric on a specific timeline.
MILESTONES
To achieve your goals, set specific milestones on your path to success. They include the following;
1) Intrinsic motivation
Your real drive comes from intrinsic motivation, knowing that you have accomplished something great and seeing results of your hard work.
2) Filter out negative distractions
Filter out negative influencers that may deter you from your goal path.
3) Get rid off overwhelming goals
It is easy to be overwhelmed when you have scary goals ahead of you. However, the milestone allows you to focus on smaller and more attainable goal- points.
4) Measure progress
The progress you have made is a significant motivator to continue on your path towards achieving your goals.
5) Foster personal accountability
Personal accountability creates discipline in your methods and process; thus, you are more likely to achieve your goals.
6) Allow for learning and re-evaluating
When dealing with plans and goals, you may face challenging changes that can alter your goal- setting objectives. Learn to embrace flexibility and allow for a time of re-evaluation to take place.
RESOURCES NEEDED
To achieve the goals and outcomes, you need the following resources;
1. People
2. Money
3. Advice
WHY A GOAL IS IMPORTANT
The importance of having a goal includes;
1. To live
2. To love and be loved
3. To feel important
4. Variety
VISUALIZE YOUR GOALS
Everyone lives a different reality depending on the filtering systems of human senses. At all times, the human five senses absorb a significant amount of data. Our surroundings of what we see, hear, or touch is an internal representation. Large amounts of external data are converted to internal images, sounds, feelings, smells, and tastes by the nervous system. There are four communication styles, which include; visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and gustatory. When you achieve a goal, you tend to think positively.
Write about what you can see
In visual mode, a person pays attention to the visual experience in the sensory map and map through internal images. Visual communicators are used, and they see to learn and look at pictures to memorize. Appearance is the key as this communicator takes an interest in how a message looks like. Pictures, images, and videos are widely used instead of written reports.
How you will feel
People experience specific feelings when one is in the process of achieving or achieves a specific goal. One could feel vitality, energized, connected, or even spicy. You may as well feel respected and loved by other people. A better and positive feeling should be experienced after the outcomes. This can result from touch or grasp of the outcomes.
Taste description
The tongue is the only organ used to feel the taste. The taste can be sour, sweet, bitter, salty, and spicy.
What you will hear.
In auditory mode, a person maps in sounds and internal dialogue. Auditory communicators are used which learn by listening to what they can hear. They are interested in how the message sounds and they respond to tones and sounds. One who processes auditory value verbal feedback, talks things over and remembers said instructions very easily.
HURDLES TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS/OUTCOMES
Setting goals and outcomes are one thing, and achieving them is another. There are three types of obstacles you are likely to face in the course of attaining your goals. These obstacles are categorized into personal, environmental, and social.
1. Personal obstacles
Personal obstacles go hand in hand with your behavior, psychology, and state of mind. It includes habits that are not helpful, debilitating emotions, limiting beliefs, and paralyzing fears. It becomes an obstacle as these come down to how you will make a choice of interpreting events, subsequent thoughts and circumstances that you dwell upon. The various thoughts you choose to stay upon prevents you from making an objective decision. Your poor choices lead you to less optimal paths as you work towards your goals. You can work on these personal obstacles individually. A good way to approach things is by taking control of your thought patterns.
2. Social obstacles
Social obstacles exist in relation of who do not offer their cooperation, sabotage, or have high levels of incompetence and not able to expedite the tasks that have been assigned to them. It is vital to planning to ensure that you clarify your needs adequately, your thoughts thoroughly, and your instructions carefully.
It helps you develop strong bonds and relationships with people you rely on. The important thing in such a scenario is to have an influence on the people around you by understanding their human wants, objectives, motives, and personal desires.
3. Environmental obstacles
Obstacles presented by the environment are unexpected circumstances and conditions that you may have little control. Because they occur unexpectedly, you may not be adequately prepared and hence unable to deal with them optimally. However, with research and forward planning, you can have a contingency plan that can help you through these obstacles.
There are specific things that can stop you from achieving your goals. They include;
• Your core beliefs- you have a set of core beliefs around what you believe are possible for your life. You can never achieve anything that contradicts your core beliefs. However, beliefs can be changed.
• Failing to have a schedule or not sticking to it- create a plan and stick to it each time.
• Lacking an accountability partner- pick an accountable partner who can relate to what you can achieve and will stick to your plan.
• You want things for the wrong reasons- find out what you want and don’t be motivated by the opinion of others.
• You let your past define you- just because you failed to reach a goal in history doesn’t mean you will be failing every time and then. There are times we fail, but what we learn from our failures is crucial for the future.
TASKS
Sometimes, you can attain success while operating without a plan. However, it may take longer and be more challenging. The primary reason why you are not planning your days is that you work for other people besides working for yourself. Most of the tasks that you undertake every morning are not concerning your goals and aspirations. You first deal with the requests of what other individuals want you to do on their behalf. The most ideal way to be in charge of your time is by structuring your day along with a list of tasks that you create. Merely writing down your goals can help you fetch a good deal out of it. Nevertheless, your productivity will increase if only you manage your schedule with a task list.
At the beginning of every year, layout your objectives for the next 12 months. Ask yourself what you want to achieve in the consequent months. Then at the start of every month, layout weekly objectives. Eventually, make a daily specific task list. How do you make a daily detailed task list? Begin each day, a day before. Create the plan for the next day at the end of the current day. Begin by reviewing the present day’s plans and identify the completed ones and the undone ones by noting them down. The tasks of the next day starts with the uncompleted undertakings.
Here is a typical day list.
Because of the fact that longer duties are more tiresome, avoid schedule that may be more than an hour before they are complete. If you have tasks that take several hours, then break them up into pieces that can be done over a few days. This way, it is easier to accomplish them. A normal day may have three or four tasks tasks that last for one hour, four or five half-hour tasks and 12 tasks of 15-minutes each. It will help you match your energy throughout the day together with the task list. You should get all your essential tasks and less necessary jobs done every day. The moment you are through with a task, erase it from you list.
Creating a list of each day should take less than 15 minutes. By this, you will be ahead of your colleagues, coworkers, and competitors. You will set your priorities right and have a robust sense of excitement, energy, and confidence that the day will be a productive one.