Meeting Goals Effectively
By: Luke Entrup
It’s hard to be motivated sometimes, especially when it comes to meeting goals we’ve set for ourselves. Regardless of whether you’ve set personal or professional goals (or both), there are some simple ways to help you do just that - from consulting with those close to us to utilizing a proven, 60-year-old model to help guide you.
Reflect. Spend some time reflecting on what is working well and what areas you might want to focus on changing. A great tool is the Wheel of Life, which may be used to assess the areas of your life that need attention. Examine the domains of purpose and work, love and relationship, financial, social, spiritual, emotional, health, fulfillment and more.
Ask for feedback. Consider asking for feedback from those around you; take the time to hear how they experience you. This can come from your boss, your partner, or your friends. If you have a coach, talk to your coach. Meet with a group of people whose values align with yours. Read something inspiring. Wintertime allows time to connect with people and ideas that we don’t always have time for during the year.
Set an intention. A lofty, edgy intention should pull us toward who we wish to be. Some examples of this include launching a new business, living from your heart, getting into the best shape of your life, or finally making that career change.
Make a clear plan after you’ve set your intentions. The SMART Goal framework, which essentially means making clear, specific, and measurable goals, is a great tool. Start small by setting goals in one-week increments; you can learn quickly from failures and adjust your goals as needed. Developing momentum is key to starting a new habit, as it takes about thirty days to form that new habit. Avoid using terms like “exercise more” in your plan and instead use more specific language, like, “I will workout for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for the next week.” The following books are helpful in creating new habits for specific structures for behavioral change: Atomic Habits, Switch and The Compound Effect.
Track your progress. Keep a journal with brief, daily entries that reflect on your commitments and your feelings about your new habit. This can help to keep you motivated and aware of what is working and what is not.
Seek support. Enlist the support of friends, family or a coach to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. As coaches, we help our clients work through inevitable challenges and fumbles as they work towards new habits. It can be helpful to share your plan with a few close friends or a coach.
Making appropriate and necessary changes will enable you to live a life of purpose and impact. The world needs us to be alive in our work and relationships.