Why is goal setting an essential aspect of our life?
How do we set “SMARTER” goals?
Goal Setting is a vast topic that is practical. Goal Setting is used across numerous contexts, and anyone can set a goal for any aspect of life.
Goal setting helps us improve an athlete’s motivation and commitment to stay focused on what to accomplish. It is also beneficial to assess our strengths and weaknesses and track our performance and improvement.
Every successful manager or athlete, or achiever sets goals.
What is a goal?
How do we set SMARTER goals?
What is a Goal?
‘A goal is a target or a specific standard or accomplishment that one strives to attain‘ (Locke and Latham 2006; 2002).
Goals are proposed to influence performance in 4 distinct ways:
- Increasing focus and directs attention on a task
- Mobilizing effort
- Enhancing persistence
- Developing new learning strategy
How do we set goals?
You must set short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals.
Process (How we do something), Performance and Outcome Goals (What we do)
More specifically, process goals are focused on improving specific behaviors exhibited throughout a performance (e.g., skill technique). In contrast, performance goals focus on the performance’s Specification (e.g., skill achievement). Finally, outcome goals focus on the outcome of an event (e.g., winning).
For example, a football player can set the following goals:
Outcome- Winning the game
Performance- Making accurate and successful passes
Process- food placement on the ball, spin on release
To have efficient goal setting, our goals should be SMARTER.
What do I mean?
Your goals must be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable/attainable/assignable/action oriented/agreed
Realistic/relevant
Time-Based
Evaluated/ethical/ecological
Rewarding/rewarded/recorded/re-evaluated.
Try to follow the following Goal Setting Principles:
- Set specific goals
- Use a mix of process, performance, & outcome goals
- Set practice and competition goals
- Record goals
- Provide evaluation and feedback
- Develop goal achievement strategy
- Set moderately tricky but realistic goals
- Consider the participant’s personality and motivation
- Foster goal commitment
- Provide goal support
- Set long and short-term goals
NOW THINK:
Which is the perfect long-term goal for you if all goes well by your potential?
What is your dream goal for this season?
What is the realistic goal for this year, based on your capabilities?
What is your goal for this month? Where are you going to focus more?
What is your goal for today? Where are you going to focus more, in which area?
Concentrate on the first step. Write down the first step you are going to follow.
Is the Goal SMARTER?
What is the Strategy you are going to follow?
Now:
- “Write your goals down.
- “Pick long term, intermediate and short-term goals to create stepping stones to take you from where you are, to where you want to be, in gradual steps.
- “Don’t constantly think too far ahead –approach each session one at a time. Don’t worry about how far away from your dream or goal you are.”
- “Commit yourself to your plan. You won’t see results immediately but being mentally committed to the process is a big part. Be prepared for the fact it won’t be easy.”
- “Have a way to measure your performance objectively. Chart your progress to be honest with yourself, leaving no room for interpretation. This is the only way to truly analyze your progression to see if you’re improving or if the plan’s not working.”
“Dreams are free. Goals have a cost. Time, effort, sacrifice, and sweat. How will you pay for your goals?”
Usain Bolt