Thursday 27 December 2012

The Secret of All High Achievers: Effective Goal Setting

Most people drift through life with vague dreams and ambitions; however, those who go approach life in a purposeful manner are the ones who end up as high achievers. Goal setting is the most effective way of taking control of your life. No matter what you want to do, be it managing your finances, learning a new skill, or modifying a behavior pattern, you will find that using goal setting strategies will make those tasks much easier.
Getting Started
Goal setting is systematic procedure. Usually it comprises the following steps.
  1. To begin with, you will need to work out where you want to be in the next ten or fifteen years. These are your long-term, lifetime goals.

  2. Once you have this "big picture" in your mind, you need to strategize ways of reaching it. These steps to reach the final goal are your short-term goals. Short-term goals can be for the next six months or a year.

  3. And then, you need to chart out daily tasks that need to be accomplished to reach the short-term goals.

  4. Finally, every few months you can spend some time reviewing your goals and assessing your progress. Remember, you need to be flexible enough to modify your goals if required.

Effective Goal Setting Strategies
Setting the right goals is essential to maintain motivation and ensure success. You can use the following goal setting strategies to ensure that you succeed in your endeavors.
Set specific and measurable goals: Vague and generalized goals are ambiguous and difficult to achieve, such as "I want to be successful in life." Instead, try to be specific and precise while formulating your goals. If you can measure your goals, then it will be easier for you to know when you have achieved them.
Set smaller goals: Make a short list of goals. It is better to aim for 5 essential tasks in your to-do list for the day and complete all of them than having a long list and quitting after completing one or two tasks. Starting with small and specific goals will boost your confidence.
Opt for performance goals: You have greater control over your performance than over the outcome, thus it is better to set goals around your performance. This will ensure that you are not demotivated if environmental factors prevent you from achieving your goals. This philosophy is to focus on giving your best shot instead of looking only at the result.
Remain realistic: While it is always good to aim high, make sure that your goals are achievable and practical. Overambitious and impractical goals can kill your motivation.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7428821

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