Following on from my previous blog about how to get over your fear of setting of goals, click here, I’d like to go on and look at how you give yourself the best chance of setting meaningful goals which you can achieve:
Step 1 – Set goals
Allow yourself to dream, make lists of things you would love to do or achieve.
Now that you have established your most important values (see my Feb 2015 blog) you can use this as your compass – the road map for individual goals can change but just keep checking in with that compass to check that you still feel good about the overall direction you are heading.
Divide your life into four areas, being work, leisure, health, relationships, and then prioritise values in each quadrant.
In each quadrant start setting goals based on your most important values in that quadrant. Remember you are not looking to “balance” work and life, you are looking to integrate all the quadrants so that you get the most out of your life.
Look at setting goals in each area of your life but recognise that 1 or 2 big goals alongside some other smaller goals will probably be enough at any one time.
Step 2 – Break the goals into action plans
Instead of only focusing on the final outcome, focus on the actions and behaviours you need to get there. For example the goal may be to lose 5kg but the action plan needs to be around how many exercise sessions you will do each week and how you will change your eating habits. If you have set a goal around finding a new job then your actions may include getting active on LinkedIn, contacting recruiters, and researching potential new employers in your field so set SMART goals around these actions.
Step 3 – Foresee obstacles
Look ahead and think about what might get in the way of you following your plan and achieving your goals. Consider how you might overcome those obstacles and be flexible so that you can work around them. For example if a big new project comes in at work you may have to revise your schedule of when you can exercise or when you can pursue your dream role.
Understanding that there will be challenges will help you face them and keep working towards your goals rather than abandoning them as being too hard.
Step 4 – Make a public commitment
Writing down your visions, values and goals makes it much more likely that you will achieve them but research has shown that making them public makes them much more likely again. Sometime this is a scary step because we are afraid of possible ridicule so ensure you share your plans with people with whom you have a strong relationship based on trust. If you have developed goals that really tap into your inner being you will feel much more enthusiastic about doing this and as you get used to articulating what it is you really want you will feel more confident about doing it. Which brings me to the last step:
Step 5 – Surround yourself with positive supporters
Spend your time with people who inspire you and who share your excitement about your goals, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. Ask your family or colleagues to help in any way they can, which may be as simple as not offering you that extra portion of dessert or may be making an introduction to an acquaintance in another business.
Then keep your supporters updated on your progress so that you can celebrate all the small achievements along the way.
Finally….
Through all of this remember that goal setting is a process, a cycle which you can keep changing depending on circumstance and your discovery of what does and doesn’t work.
Keep checking in with what is important to you and stay open to life in all its uncertainties and complexities so that you can seize opportunities as they arise. If you are too rigid in your pursuit of your goals it is possible to “over-identify” with the goal and lose sight of your life as a “whole”.
If you would like help figuring out the next steps in your life or how to achieve those big goals please contact me for a confidential no-obligation chat today on 0412 167 358 or email to [email protected]
Step 1 – Set goals
Allow yourself to dream, make lists of things you would love to do or achieve.
Now that you have established your most important values (see my Feb 2015 blog) you can use this as your compass – the road map for individual goals can change but just keep checking in with that compass to check that you still feel good about the overall direction you are heading.
Divide your life into four areas, being work, leisure, health, relationships, and then prioritise values in each quadrant.
In each quadrant start setting goals based on your most important values in that quadrant. Remember you are not looking to “balance” work and life, you are looking to integrate all the quadrants so that you get the most out of your life.
Look at setting goals in each area of your life but recognise that 1 or 2 big goals alongside some other smaller goals will probably be enough at any one time.
Step 2 – Break the goals into action plans
Instead of only focusing on the final outcome, focus on the actions and behaviours you need to get there. For example the goal may be to lose 5kg but the action plan needs to be around how many exercise sessions you will do each week and how you will change your eating habits. If you have set a goal around finding a new job then your actions may include getting active on LinkedIn, contacting recruiters, and researching potential new employers in your field so set SMART goals around these actions.
Step 3 – Foresee obstacles
Look ahead and think about what might get in the way of you following your plan and achieving your goals. Consider how you might overcome those obstacles and be flexible so that you can work around them. For example if a big new project comes in at work you may have to revise your schedule of when you can exercise or when you can pursue your dream role.
Understanding that there will be challenges will help you face them and keep working towards your goals rather than abandoning them as being too hard.
Step 4 – Make a public commitment
Writing down your visions, values and goals makes it much more likely that you will achieve them but research has shown that making them public makes them much more likely again. Sometime this is a scary step because we are afraid of possible ridicule so ensure you share your plans with people with whom you have a strong relationship based on trust. If you have developed goals that really tap into your inner being you will feel much more enthusiastic about doing this and as you get used to articulating what it is you really want you will feel more confident about doing it. Which brings me to the last step:
Step 5 – Surround yourself with positive supporters
Spend your time with people who inspire you and who share your excitement about your goals, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. Ask your family or colleagues to help in any way they can, which may be as simple as not offering you that extra portion of dessert or may be making an introduction to an acquaintance in another business.
Then keep your supporters updated on your progress so that you can celebrate all the small achievements along the way.
Finally….
Through all of this remember that goal setting is a process, a cycle which you can keep changing depending on circumstance and your discovery of what does and doesn’t work.
Keep checking in with what is important to you and stay open to life in all its uncertainties and complexities so that you can seize opportunities as they arise. If you are too rigid in your pursuit of your goals it is possible to “over-identify” with the goal and lose sight of your life as a “whole”.
If you would like help figuring out the next steps in your life or how to achieve those big goals please contact me for a confidential no-obligation chat today on 0412 167 358 or email to [email protected]
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