Goal Setting - 8 Steps to Achieve More!

Almost 36% of us have already given up on our 2014 goals.  While 64% of us are still pursuing our goals, only 8% of us will achieve them. Why can’t we consistently achieve our goals? Dr. Edwin Locke and Dr. Gary Latham, two expert researchers in the field of organizational behavior and human psychology, have been studying goal setting and achievement for over 25 years. Locke and Latham found three factors that keep us from achieving goals.

• Lack of commitment. If we are not committed to the goal it is unlikely we will achieve it.
• Lack of specificity. If our goal is vague or abstract we are unlikely to achieve it.
• Lack of difficulty. If our goal is easy, with little challenge to it, we are unlikely to achieve it.

The lack of commitment, specificity and difficulty can be addressed by employing a better process.  Everyone can achieve their goals more quickly and effectively by applying this proven eight-step goal achievement process.

When we apply these eight critical steps to effective goal achievement we significantly increase our efficiency and performance. This eight-step process provides a framework to clarify your goals, actively identify what is needed to achieve the goal, and make decisions on how to allocate your time, talent and resources accordingly.

Eight Steps to Effective Goal Achievement

Step #1:  Write your goal down in first person pre-possession form.

Take a weight loss goal as an example.

• Non-specific general goal:  Lose weight
• Specific, first person pre-possession goal:  I lost 25 pounds.

Writing the goal as if you have already achieved it is powerful.  Your mind cannot tell the different between what is real and what is vividly and repeatedly imagined.  By reading, “I lost 25 pounds” on a daily basis the mind begins to act upon it.  The research supporting how the brain responds to this type of goal prompting can found in articles dating back to 1964.  If you do nothing else, writing your goals in this format and reading them everyday will increase your performance.

Step #2:  Identify the benefits you will enjoy from achieving the goal.

Why are you pursuing this goal? When the benefits to achieving a goal are significant and meaningful to you, the greater your commitment becomes.  In the pursuit of important and challenging goals, you will run into challenges and difficulties.  When obstacles and challenges present themselves, you are going to need motivation and encouragement.  Clearly identifying the benefits will reinforce your commitment and keep you from quitting.

Step #3:  Pick a date to achieve the goal.

Assigning an achievement date creates the commitment to action, essential to goal achievement.  Goals without achievement dates fall into the category of vague and abstract. Committing to achieving a goal by a particular date creates a sense of urgency; helps you schedule your time, and assign required resources.

Steps #4 - #7 are critical.  The work you do on these four steps will determine how efficiently and effectively you will be in the pursuit of your goal(s).  It is easy to skip these steps, or not update them, as you go through the process.  Don’t skip these steps because they will generate specific action items you will need to organize, schedule and act on.

Step #4:  Identify the skills and knowledge you will need to improve or acquire.

We stop pursuing goals when we do not think we are capable of achieving them. Yet, the achievement of almost any goal will require you to improve a skill, acquire a new skill, or increase your knowledge. Identifying the skills and knowledge you will need to achieve your goal prepares you for success.

Step #5:  Identify the people, groups, or organizations that can help.

High achievers consistently look for others who have done what they want to achieve and emulate them.  You will find people love to help you achieve great goals; all you have to do is ask. Securing the help and assistance of expert resources will speed your execution, minimize the potential for mistakes, and build your resource network.

Step #6:  Identify the potential obstacles you will or could encounter.

Obstacles are not always obvious, and will present themselves at the most inopportune times.  The key to identifying obstacles is to ask a couple key questions.  What could go wrong?  What obstacles have others faced in the pursuit of this type of goal? Potential obstacles could include time, money, proximity to tools or resources, physical limitations, support from key people, and conflicts with other goals or roles.

Step #7:  Identify the money and resources you will need.

The best way to evaluate money and resources is to look at steps 4, 5, and 6; ask yourself this question, how much money or time will be required to address the items you have identified.  The acquisition of money or resources can become your first and most important action step in the pursuit of the goal.

Step #8:  Create your action plan.

Review steps 4, 5, 6 and 7. The items you have listed in response to each of these steps are the action items for your plan.

• Prioritize the list of items from steps 4, 5, 6 & 7.
• What action or behavior will you take to complete/address the item?
• When will you complete the action item?
• Review your plan weekly, updating the actions, creating your to-do list, and blocking time on your calendar to it.

Pick one or two goals of your 2014 goals.  Work through the process and review your plan and actions weekly.  If you do, I can almost guarantee you will achieve more of your goals in 2014.  How can I guarantee it? Studies by NYU researcher, Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, show that people who pursue challenging goals plan more, exert more effort, take more consistent action, and achieve more of their goals.  By applying the eights steps of effective goal achievement, you will raise your success rate.

I use a goal template for this process, which I maintain in a program called Evernote.  If you would like to see a more detailed example, send me an email, and I will send you a link to get Evernote and a sample of my goal template.  In addition, sign up to get your copy of “14 for 2014.” You will find additional strategies to help you be more, do more, and give more in 2014.

What is your biggest challenge with goal setting and staying on track?