When we were children, remember we used to say, I want to become a pilot when I grow up or that I want to become a doctor, an engineer, an air hostess, and what not! All children have certain dreams, they aspire to become something in life! But, what happens as we grow up? life happens!
You realize that sometimes things are not practically possible and that you cannot always fulfill your dreams. Does that mean you give up on your dreams and do not wish for anything at all? No! then why do your dreams not get fulfilled? Have you ever given it a thought?
One of the reasons this happens may be because you do not have a plan to go about achieving that dream. But in contrast when you do have a plan for achieving what you want in life that dream no longer remains a dream it becomes a goal.
Although the journey from a dream to a goal is very important, it is not very easy setting goals. In this article, we will touch up on this very topic “goal setting”, its importance, and how to set achievable goals.
What is a goal?
In Collins English Dictionary, a goal is simply an ‘aim’ or a ‘purpose’. Popular goal-setting theorists render the meaning of the term similarly to the purpose of an action whose result is expected to be achieved at a particular time in the future (1). Although, goal-setting is an immensely popular concept in work planning and assessment it can be used by any and all of us in our daily lives.
Types of goals
Goals can be classified in a variety of ways but commonly there are two types of goals
Short-Term Goals
They focus on performance.
They require immediate action.
They are generally used to accomplish tasks and complete projects.
Long-Term Goals
They focus on potential.
They are reachable in small steps.
They are generally used to build and develop individuals and organizations.
Difficulties that may be faced while setting goals
Goals are extremely important to make, but they are also quite difficult to explicitly make. It is easy to have an understanding of what you think goals may be, but to write them out and follow the guidelines for goal setting is quite difficult. Also setting realistic and achievable goals is a time-consuming process.
It can also be hard to get all members on board with goal setting if the goal is for a team. But do not get discouraged along the way. Creating these goals is so important to success that it will ultimately be worth pushing through any obstacles that arise along the way.
Characteristics of a goal
A goal should be SMART. It means that a goal should be specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, and time-bound.
Specific- Goals should be both explicit and unclouded. They should not be misinterpreted. The goal-setting theory asserts that specific goals improve performance by producing higher levels of effort and planning than unclear or general goals.
People strive for a higher standard of success by increasing effort (2). When people pursue vague goals, they may obtain satisfaction from even low levels of performance (3).
Measurable- Goals must be measurable because measurement permits objectivity. This helps define goals in terms of actions that one can readily see. Measurement can be as simple as an informal checklist. For example, at the beginning of your jogging program, you could establish a baseline by timing yourself over a one-mile course.
If your time is 14 minutes, you have established that as your baseline. It is reasonable to infer that with proper training, your time can improve—an indication of enhanced fitness condition.
Acceptable- Goals should not be imposed, but rather self-desired and thereby acceptable—whether assigned or self-conceived. When individuals accept their goals and make a commitment to achieving them, goals have a much better chance of being realized.
However, if the goal is more imposed than desired, the goal may be perceived as more difficult to attain, thereby resulting in frustration instead of accomplishment.
Realistic- Goals should also be challenging—but within an individual’s capabilities and limitations. They should not represent whatever levels of achievement a person decides would be “nice.” Wishful thinking has no place in effective goal setting.
For goals to serve as a tool for stretching an individual to reach their full potential, they must be challenging but achievable. Therefore, before beginning goal setting, you should consider your stretch of capabilities and honestly examine whether you have the knowledge, skills, resources, and abilities needed to accomplish your goals.
Time-bound- every goal needs a deadline so that you can focus on and work towards your goal in that fixed period. It is unlikely that you will achieve your goals if you don’t set a deadline. To set up time-specific goals you usually need to answer one of these questions
- When do I aim to achieve this goal?
- What can I achieve in 6 months?
- What can I achieve in a year?
Benefits of goal setting
There are many benefits of goal setting. Some of the more notable advantages are as follows
- Goals help to direct attention and actions because they give you a target. People can become confused if they do not have a specific goal toward which to direct their efforts. Goals nurture an atmosphere that produces specific results within specific periods.
- Goals are useful in helping people perform at peak levels. Setting goals makes you aware of the mental, emotional, and physical energy you will need for the task. It will also encourage you to conserve and mobilize your energy carefully.
- Goals can help bolster persistence. The absence of strong goals can distract from one’s mission. You may even be tempted to quit when facing a challenge.
- Goals aid a person in developing innovative strategies. Those who set important goals will not be surprised at how ingenious they can get in devising their strategies to reach their goals.
- Goal setting provides a short and long-term game plan. If set properly and realistically, you can map out your future as well as plan to achieve other aspirations.
- Goals can assist in preventing stress. A comprehensive goal can help avoid burnout and produce positive feelings
As much as it is important to set goals it is also imperative to keep in mind that it is not the end of the world if you are not able to achieve your goal.
Yes, you should be ambitious but not so much that you give up on life itself and beat yourself up to achieve it. In the end, it is the journey towards the goal that will be immortal in your memories and not the goal itself. So, make this journey beautiful enough, challenging but not taxing.
After all, they are your goals, and if plan A to achieve them is not successful there is always plan B, C, D, and so on. You will realize that there may be many ways to achieve the same goal so change your way but not your goal.
Tell us what are your goals in terms of fitness, nutrition, and life in general. Do write to us about them in the comments section below.
Author: Dr Pooja Nilgar (Content writer and editor)
References
- Ogbeiwi, O., 2021. General concepts of goals and goal-setting in healthcare: A narrative review. Journal of Management & Organization, 27(2), pp.324-341.
- Shalley, C.E., 1991. Effects of productivity goals, creativity goals, and personal discretion on individual creativity. Journal of Applied psychology, 76(2), p.179.
- Latham, G.P. and Locke, E.A., 1991. Self-regulation through goal setting. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 50(2), pp.212-247.
