Everyone wants to be successful in life. But the definition of success changes from person to person. The road to success can get easy with goal setting. If we go by the definitions of goal setting – it involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a person or group toward a goal. Goal setting can be guided by goal-setting criteria (or rules) such as SMART criteria. Goal setting is a major component of personal development and management literature.
Studies by Edwin A. Locke (an American psychologist and a pioneer in goal-setting theory) and his colleagues have shown that more specific and ambitious goals lead to more performance improvement than easy or general goals. As long as the person accepts the goal, has the ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there is a positive linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.
This shows that goal setting plays an important role in our life. Whether personal or professional goal, a step by step approach will definitely help in making things happen. When you are faithful with the small the bigger things will fall in place. Also, it is important to enjoy the journey towards achieving the goals which will really make a difference to the overall success rate. Let’s look at some of the aspects that goal setting helps you with:
#1 – Helps to stay focused
The most important aspect of goal setting is, it helps you to stay focused and at times helps to restore your focus. In today’s world we are multitasking with loads of activities on our plate. In the quest to complete one task and at the same time not drop the other one, you lose focus on both of them.
You can have all the smartness in the world but without focus your skills and abilities cannot be utilized completely. Goals help you to stay focused (with clarity) and move in the right direction. It’s like you give yourself targets to achieve. You are the one in-charge of your life. No one other than you knows better about you and what you want to achieve in your life.
If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time – Zig Ziglar
#2 – Opens more opportunities
Once you have set your goals and are on the path to achieving them, at times you will realize that it opens up new avenues for you which you might not have even thought of or were not willing to take up. When these opportunities come up like a solution (a path to move forward), automatically you are motivated because you see yourself more inclined towards achieving the goal rather closer to it and know that you will soon get there.
#3 – Helps in measuring the progress
Once you’ve set your goals you can monitor the progress. The progress chart serves as a measure or benchmark. Suppose your goal is to lose 20 kgs of weight in 10 months. If you look at 20 kgs it sounds like too big to achieve. But if you break it into smaller goals; say like reducing 2 kgs per month then achieving your goal becomes simpler. You can now measure your progress every month.
#4 – Serves as a motivation factor
The above measurement and solution serves as a motivation factor. It helps to keep you going in the quest to perform better every time. You now know that you can make things happen.
#5 – Keeps one away from distraction
As you progress, you have found out solutions and alternatives to achieve your goals. You also know that goal setting is helping you in measuring your progress. This in turn helps in keeping you away from any sort of distractions as you start looking forward to achieving the milestones.
#6 – Helps in improving performance
With increase in your focus, motivation and measurement on achieving your goal, you will notice that your overall performance also increases. You feel stronger and capable of achieving your milestones.
Nothing is impossible. Impossible itself is “I m possible”
There are many more benefits which one can derive as we take the path to goal setting. Did you experience some benefits? If yes, do share them with us in the comments.