SESSION THREE: SETTING GOALS
Read any self-improvement book and you will learn that hard work, focused goals, and persistence are important to achieving your objectives. Goals or targets are also an important part of managing your time.
In this session, you will learn why setting goals is important. We will also introduce you to the SMART acronym, which can help you set solid goals that you are motivated to reach. You will then have an opportunity to set a goal for yourself to accomplish after the course.
Goals and Targets
Most of us cannot hit a target if we cannot see it. Before you can develop plans, you have to know what you want to accomplish (your goals or targets); how you want to accomplish those goals or targets; what resources of time, money, and materials you have; and who will carry out the implementation. So set some targets for yourself, targets that you can see, and we will start the journey to reaching them.
Many of us are full of ideas but short on taking constructive action to put those ideas into play. Maybe we try something once and then meet failure because we did not think and plan the actions through. But you know what they say about the lottery: “You cannot win if you do not buy a ticket.” Well, the same is true in life: if you stop trying, you lose all chance of succeeding. Make a pact with yourself that you will make an effort to put into practice the things we talk about today that will be of the most benefit to YOU. And to make that pact even more of a commitment, share it with a colleague, your spouse, or your supervisor so they can help you achieve your goal.
Setting SMART Goals
Goals and objectives are the basis for planning. As the Cheshire Cat said to Alice, “If you don’t know where you are going, then any road will take you there.” And that is often how we approach life. We just live, and if we end up where we want to be, hey, that is great. If we end up where we do not want to be, hey, that is life.
We can do a bit better than that, if we really want to. The first element in planning is knowing what we want to achieve, and the way we word our goals is the biggest factor in helping us achieve them. To help you create good goals, remember the SMART acronym.
A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-framed.
| Specific
| · A SMART goal describes a specific, observable action or behavior using action verbs and defines “what has to be done?” · Does it relate to my job? · What am I going to achieve as a result of this target? · Does it relate to the departmental plan? · Does it clearly define the function to be performed? |
| Measurable
| · Outcomes or end results in qualitative or quantitative terms. · Can the result be easily defined or measured? · How can I check/observe progress and verify outcomes? · Can the limits and parameters of the goal be defined? · How will I know when the target is met? |
| Attainable
| · Goals are within reach – both realistic and reasonable given the required skills and resources are provided. · How difficult will it be to achieve this goal? · What would prevent this goal from being achieved? · Is it realistic in terms of my knowledge, experience and skills and/or what resources will I need to achieve the goal? · Is it within my control? |
| Relevant
| · A SMART goal is relevant to individual responsibilities, departmental goals and the strategic direction of the organization. · Does this goal make sense considering my job description and daily responsibilities? · Does this goal address the needs of the organization? · Why is this goal important to the organization? |
| Time-framed | · SMART goals have specific target dates, frequencies or deadlines. · Is there an end date, deadline, and/or milestone for the result? · How long will it take to achieve this goal? · Are there progress review check points? |