Unlocking the Power of Eight Effective Goal Setting Techniques

Goal-setting techniques are frameworks you can use for setting goals with direction and focus. Experts have developed many goal-setting techniques, here are eight:

1. SMART goals

SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. These goals help you focus your efforts, and each part of the word means:

• Specific: Make sure you define your goal carefully and clearly. For example, improving your cardio by running more often.

• Measurable: Include something in your goal that you can measure, such as a goal of running four times a week for the next three months.

• Achievable: Find a goal that you are likely to meet with your current schedule. If running four times weekly is too much, start with two runs.

• Realistic: Ensure that you can meet the goal.

• Time-bound: Give your goal a time frame so that you can plan for your success. For example, within six weeks, your goal is to be able to make four runs of 5 miles per week, you know when you need to complete your last task to succeed at this goal.

Sometimes, SMART is expanded to make SMARTER goals, where the extra letters stand for evaluate and readjust.

• Evaluate: Choose a regular time to check on your goal's progress. For example, check every two weeks to be sure you have made progress on your project to achieve your goal.

• Readjust: Be prepared to change your plan as needed. If you get sick or experience overload of work / family obligations, for instance, be flexible and adjust your plan.

2. HARD goals

HARD stands for heartfelt, animated, required and difficult.

• Heartfelt: If you want to learn a new skill, imagine the pride of having a new skill. Then, connect that pride with the goal and use that emotion as your motivation for learning.

• Animated: Visualize what achieving your goal would look like. Incorporate every sense that you can and imagine what it would sound, feel, smell or even taste like so you can remember the feeling every time you think about your goal.

• Required: If possible, connect your goal to something that's necessary for you. For example, if you want to improve your research skills, volunteer to create a report for your team, as this obligation can motivate you to keep working on your goal.

• Difficult: Set a goal that challenges you. By doing this, you'll feel accomplished when you complete it.

3. WOOP goals

WOOP stands for wish, outcome, obstacle and plan. Some consider this an exceptionally helpful technique for stopping a habit you might no longer want. The steps include:

• Wish: Make sure your wish is exciting for you. Imagine the sort of goal you would wish for and attach a positive feeling to the goal you want.

• Outcome: Imagine the best possible result of achieving your goal. Think of how you would feel if this happened and visualize it in as much vivid detail as possible.

• Obstacle: Consider what might prevent you or slow you down from success.

• Plan: Find solutions to any obstacles that might interfere with your goal.

4. Locke and Latham's five principles of goal setting

Locke and Latham developed a technique for setting goals that help the goal setter succeed. Each part of the goal-setting technique helps you set a more effective goal and make progress toward completing it. The principles include:

• Clarity: Set clear goals you can measure and understand. Doing so helps you to achieve the goal and know when you've succeeded, which can improve motivation.

• Challenge: Make sure your goal requires effort to complete.

• Commitment: Find a goal that you want to accomplish. The more committed you are to achieving your goal, the more likely you are to complete it.

• Feedback: Check on your goal regularly and provide yourself ongoing feedback. If you can ask someone else for feedback, this may help even more and encourage you to stay on track to completing your goal.

• Task complexity: Be sure your goal isn't beyond your ability to complete. Be ambitious but set a realistic objective.  

And,

5. Micro goals

Rather than setting one large goal, you can set multiple smaller goals that can help you achieve an overarching goal. Smaller, achievable goals can help you stay motivated and remind you of the progress you've made. Consider rewarding yourself for achieving small goals and check your progress regularly.

6. Backward goals

This type of goal-setting technique involves using your end goal as a starting point. It helps you decide what steps need to be taken to reach the objective. This can be helpful for people who aren't sure what goal they want. Using this technique allows them to translate that vision into measurable goals.

7. One-word goals

This technique emphasizes simplicity. Find one word that describes your goal and use that as your motivation. This forces you to find a goal that is memorable and simple, which can help new goal setters find something achievable and doable for them.

8. Visual goals

Some people find it easier to use visual representations of their goals. Imagine what your goal looks like and find a picture that represents it. You can also add a quote that illustrates your visual objective. Each time you see the image, remind yourself of your goal or your reason for achieving it.