The Growth Coach

Last week's blog post Creating Effective Goals Using a Role-Based Approach talked about the importance of creating goals for all the "roles" you play in life. This week, I’m going to share proven techniques that will help you set goals that will guarantee your success in both your personal and professional life.

Studies show that people who use goal setting effectively are more successful than those who don’t. They demonstrate more confidence and suffer less from stress and anxiety. And because they concentrate better, they also perform better and are more satisfied.

But what's important to note is that it can’t be just any goal. It must be effective and powerful enough to provide a clear direction and focus on what needs to be done.

Here are some tips to guide you in your goal setting:

1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals. This is a basic rule in goal setting. To translate, goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. In addition, your goals must enable you to evaluate your performance so you know how well you’re doing!
2. Emphasize what you expect and NOT what is expected of you. This puts you in a position of empowerment and helps you feel as though you are in the driver’s seat of your own life (which of course you are). Instead of saying that it MUST be like this, say, “I WANT it like this.” The wrong expectations will only give you more pressure, which will only make it even harder for you to accomplish things.
3. State your goals in a present, active voice. Set your goals in the present tense, as though you have already achieved them. For example, “I earn $250K in personal take-home pay.” This will help you think of yourself as someone who already has what you want -- and that will make it more natural for you to get it.
4. Stretch, but don’t break, yourself. Create goals with high standards so you will always be looking and reaching up. But don’t overdo it. Effective goals are high enough to inspire you but not so high that they frustrate and discourage you.
5. Accountability, accountability, accountability. It’s easy to forget to pursue your goals -- especially when you get busy. Be sure to build accountability into your goals by writing them down, having set review periods, and most importantly, finding an accountability partner who will help you hold your feet to the fire.

An expert business coach can help you set and meet your most important goals in business and life. For help succeeding in 2012, request a FREE 60 minute Complimentary Coaching Session with one of the expert coaches at the Goldhill Group and see how you can benefit! CLICK HERE to request your FREE session now.