How to set goals correctly and achieve results: 10 rules

Goal setting is an integral part of life: we set goals for our career, health and tomorrow, sometimes without even thinking about it, but, of course, it is still better to do it correctly and consciously. Modern society seems to encourage us to constantly think about the next milestone once the previous one has been achieved, but we don't always think enough about the science and strategy of achieving goals. We have compiled instructions that will help you set goals correctly and achieve them.

how to set goals and objectives correctly

Dreaming of making our incredible desires come true, we are always faced with the inability to define our goals and dreams. Let's figure it out, because the dream is the stronghold of our abstract thinking. We fantasize, we want a lot, but we do not translate our dreams into materiality. For example, as children we all dream of being magical fairies, veterinarians, teachers and actors. But when we grow up, unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, dreams remain dreams, because we realize that over time, other interests and more global goals in life appear.

What is the difference between a dream and a goal? Let's take a look at the Russian language dictionary. A goal is what they strive for, what they want to achieve; pre-planned task, plan (Dictionary of the Russian Language, RAS, Institute of Linguistic Research, Polygraphresources, 1999)

In the same dictionary we will find the interpretation of the word “ dream ”.

A dream is something created by imagination, fantasy; thought, thought about something desirable, alluring; desire, desire. Now, having found out the meaning of words, you can begin to analyze the concepts of how to set tasks and goals in the new year.

Why is it important to have a goal?

So why is it important to have a purpose in life? Let’s immediately clarify that this does not have to be some kind of global goal like a Nobel Prize or an Oscar for best role. Goals do not have to be global. It is quite enough if they are yours and not imposed from outside.

Why does a person need goals in life?

1. Goals add meaning to your daily routine. You don't just go to a boring, dull job - you earn money to go to Africa and go on a real African safari. You don't sit back and lie on the couch - you maintain peace of mind and concentrate your energy for future achievements.

1. Goals organize your daily activities and protect you from unnecessary movements. When you don’t know what to do, agree to something or refuse, you can always relate the situation to your life goals and how the upcoming actions contribute to achieving it. People who do not have such guidelines, at least approximate ones, are doomed to hesitate longer and become more nervous in ambiguous situations.

1. Goals give you motivation to take action and prevent you from getting discouraged when things are difficult for you. You were not fired from your job - you were freed up time to travel to Africa. And you can earn money not only by sitting at your desk in the office.

I think these three arguments are enough to somehow think about what you want in this life. And to make it more convenient to think, it’s time to transfer all these goals to paper.

task setting scheme

Let's dream a little about how we would like to live outside the city, but without traffic jams, and to have a flying carpet instead of a car. How I would like to work 2 days a week and get enough sleep. I think we'll stop there. Next, let's think about the realistic things you would like to achieve during the year. Focus, determine what you can do and what you need to work harder on to achieve the final result.

Let's determine ways to set goals. There is a “Franklin’s Pyramid”, the essence of which is that there are different goals and values ​​in a person’s ordinary life, and by steps from the lowest to the highest you can achieve the main goal. It will move from top to bottom.

The top stage begins with defining life values, morals and goals in life. When considering any organization, we talk about the functional purpose of this company.

For example, the difference between a task and a goal:

The goal of one person is to move to live from Saransk to St. Petersburg. And his task will be to earn money for moving expenses, or even simpler, in the form of first buying a ticket and going to see the city in more detail and find out more detailed information.

The first vital goal of a person

Self-discipline and diligence are basic superpowers for achieving almost any goal. With them, ordinary people become heroes, and not with the help of mom and dad, or money at the start. Iron internal discipline is capable of almost anything.

Goal setting skills are not taught at school and universities, and in vain. The skill of setting and achieving goals significantly increases the chances of a prosperous life. The first goal on the path to self-development is the development of internal superpower.

These are not necessarily courses on time management, but they are definitely about independently solving complex personal problems. A person must be able to mentally or in writing break down a multi-step task into achievable steps. And solve it using inner discipline and patience.

Methodology for setting goals and objectives “The Hundred”

The HUNDRED method has proven itself to be a successful practical method of goal setting. The method includes a set of tasks for setting financial goals, relationship goals, work and business goals, and personal goals. Using this method, you will increase your motivation and understand what goals you need to strive for in order to make your life better and more fulfilling.

How to use this goal setting technique:

• set 50 material goals for yourself and your family (indicate real goods and services)
• 20 career goals (achievements at work)
• 10 professional (knowledge development, education, training)
• 10 for health promotion
• 10 most unrealized “secrets”

Watch a video about setting goals and objectives in the video of Spartak Andrieshin
How goals should be written:

they must be written in the present tense, for example:

I'm losing 5 kg

I successfully open my own business

I am starting a qualitative restructuring of the sales department

I douse myself with cold water every morning and feel great.

I am buying a vacation package on a sea cruise for my wife and children

How to track progress:

1. For each task, set an approximate completion date that you consider acceptable for its implementation.
2. Monitor your progress by reviewing your list at least once a week and make mini-summaries of what worked and what is stalling.
3. As soon as your wish comes true, cross it off the list.

You need to write this list of 100 items in 1 day, or better yet, sit down, collect your thoughts and write everything down. At the moment of maximum concentration, you will better remember what you wanted before and did not realize.

methods of goal setting using Franklin's pyramid

Three types of goals

There are areas in a person’s life without which it is difficult to call life harmonious and happy. What do we need so much for this?

• High goal

Serving society and developing oneself can be called the highest goal for which we come into this world. We must definitely be useful in some way, we must “carry” something into this world and for people.

By the way, I consider charity the highest goal. Once you do this consciously, it changes you very much, and your environment becomes completely different.

Usually I never touch on politics or religious topics, but I still believe that there should be spiritual education of oneself with the help of the Bible and Holy Scripture.

• Own main goals

If we stop developing, then we degrade as individuals. And since we live in a world of people, relationships with them are important to us. Therefore, our goal is always to grow, develop and build relationships with people around us. Because everything comes to us from people: love, money, help, gifts, all sorts of nice things and other things.

• Supporting Goals

Once upon a time at a self-development training I was asked about ensuring life. And the natural answer was that it was finance. But it turns out that we also need a house where we live, a well-established way of life, so that we can simply relax there every day. You also need a vacation so that you can recover and rest, and then continue to pursue your main goals with renewed vigor.

It is imperative to have all goals, they are all vital, because without this there will be no satisfaction with life.

Setting goals and objectives using Franklin's pyramid

Let's look at an example, going through all the stages of the pyramid. The life values ​​of any athlete will include dedication to sport. The swimmer's goal is to achieve the best results and highest awards in competitions.

Next comes the global goal. This is something that is like a slogan for the next few years. In this example about an athlete, it is to become an Olympic champion in freestyle swimming.

After determining the significance of the goals, the master plan stage follows, followed by the long-term plan. The master plan implies a scheme for setting general goals to achieve a global goal (the previous stage). Let's go back to the example.

In general , the athlete's goal is to make the Olympic swimming team. This means you need to train well, perform at regional competitions, set records, be in good physical shape and develop contacts in the local Olympic commission.

A long-term plan is a plan for several years, defining specific goals with deadlines in order to be ready to conquer the global goal. In the long term, our swimmer will participate in regional aquatics competitions for several years, win prizes, improve on his performance years earlier, and make himself known to important sports officials. Will be on the national swimming team. Will perform at European and World tournaments. After winning prizes and being awarded the title of European or World Champion, he will be in the Olympic Swimming Team.

The next step after the long-term plan is the short-term plan . There it is necessary to determine what needs to be done in the weeks or months before the Olympic Games in order to become a champion. In this case, the athlete’s task is to improve his own freestyle performance at a distance of 100 meters. Based on world records, you need to understand what the result should be in order to be on the Olympic podium.

The last step, or rather where the achievement of a global goal begins, is the specification of tasks for the day. From more we come to less.

By first forming goals for the day, week, months, year, we move towards a given vector in an already formed direction. The swimming athlete begins to make a list of tasks, exercises, things that need to be completed in 24 hours and repeats every day, recording the result of the work done.

To make it easier to understand where your real goals begin and your dreams end, here's an example:

Suppose you have a goal to save one million rubles in a year, and you work as a primary school teacher in a provincial city, where salaries are not in the capital and average about 20 thousand rubles. In fact, it turns out that your goal is too high, it is global. It takes longer and more difficult to achieve it. We move confidently and purposefully towards it, and do not swim slowly, getting stuck on every wave. That is, the goal should be more realistic, for example: Save with my salary 20,000 rubles for a vacation with my husband and children, 70,000 rubles. by August 2021

As for the goal of a million, it’s better to set it for several years. For example, earn a million rubles in 4 years. You understand that you have the opportunity to take courses, retrain for a profession in demand, or earn extra money on freelance exchanges or, more radically, by moving to another city where there are more opportunities for you. I help you figure out how to determine your true needs and resources to achieve your dreams in personal coaching.

What is goal setting?

Goal setting is the act of choosing an attitude, aspiration, guideline, design, or goal that you want to achieve.

However, if you take achieving goals seriously, when setting them, it is important to rely not on what you want to achieve and how you define success, but on what you are willing to overcome on the way to what you want. Having a goal is easy enough—many people want to lose weight, get a promotion, or write a bestseller—so the real challenge is not determining whether you want the result, but whether you are willing to make the sacrifices required to achieve it.

Thus, setting a goal consists not only in choosing a reward, but also in those material (and not so) expenses that you are willing to pay for this

Goals are like a rudder: they give direction and determine where you are going. If you strive for one goal, the steering wheel stays in place and you continue to move forward. If you switch between goals, the steering wheel moves from side to side, and if your goals are chaotic, you may one day find that you've been driving in circles the whole time. Thus, there is a mechanism along the way that is even more important than the steering wheel - the gas and brake pedals. If your goal is the steering wheel, then the pedals are your way of achieving it, a kind of system. While the steering wheel determines your general direction, the pedals determine your progress. You will never get anywhere by simply holding the rudder, you have to press the pedals.

• If you're a writer, your goal is to write a book, and your system is a schedule you follow every week.
• If you're a runner, your goal is to run a marathon, and your system is a monthly training schedule.

Individuality of thinking

1. Self-control. Control your thoughts. After all, they always precede actions. Always think before you say anything. Think through your activities several steps ahead.
2. Objectivity. Learn to look at any situation from different angles, as if in 3D dimension. Weigh the positive and negative soberly.
3. Creativity. Many people think according to a template and complain about the lack of imagination and special talents. Listen to yourself. Approach creatively in all your usual activities. Develop your personal potential.
4. Initiative. Always have your opinion, feel free to express it. Confidently present personal ideas and suggestions.

HARD

The method became known to the world in 2009, when the founder and executive director of the American consulting company Leadership IQ, Mark Murphy, published the book “100 Percent” and for the first time talked about his technology for setting goals. The abbreviation means:

• Heartfelt
  - can be translated as “true goal”;
• A
  simulated - visualized;
• R
  equired - really necessary;
• Difficult
  - complex.

The logic here is this: first of all, you must be emotionally attached to your goal - this will be the main criterion for its truth. The right goal always leads you to your desired future. It must be visualized - as well as the consequences that will lead to achieving the goal and the final result. Present your achievements as often and vividly as possible.

At the same time, you must clearly understand how this or that goal will affect your personal or professional life. And of course, set challenging, ambitious goals that take you out of your comfort zone, require you to learn new skills, and even scare you. Only if all these conditions are met will you have a chance to become the best version of yourself - this is the main motivation of the HARD method.

HARD is primarily a method of setting personal goals, it is less transparent and more emotional. We should not forget about the importance of the emotional component for organizational purposes; after all, organizations are groups of the same individuals.

Proper rest

It is important not to lose mutual understanding with yourself and with others:

1. Privacy. In the hustle and bustle of daily busyness, find time to recharge. If you can’t breathe at work from the pile-up of things, and you feel like you need a time-out, go out into the fresh air for 5-10 minutes and breathe deeply, think about your dream, motivate yourself and keep working. However, upon returning home, despite household chores, find 20-30 minutes for relaxation, meditation and complete relaxation. Clear your mind and thoughts that have accumulated during the day.
2. Be honest with yourself. Be sincere always, and especially when alone with yourself and loved ones. Choose the right path and live in such a way that when you reach any height in life, your family will always remain a quiet haven for relaxation and warmth.
3. Have a beauty day. This is especially true for women. If Sunday is family day, then devote the entire Saturday evening to your body. Cosmetic masks, haircut, manicure, pedicure, massage are mandatory procedures for a successful and beautiful woman. Love yourself and always be on top.

Can a person change himself? Undoubtedly! You just have to realize the uselessness of your days, the unrealization of your own potential and the great desire to achieve your goals. Under such conditions, an awareness of how to improve your life almost immediately arises, although initially vague. By following the above clear instructions, within a short period of time you can again feel the taste for life and the energy to strive for your dreams.

Health is the main resource

To prevent problems, you need to monitor your well-being. Be mindful of your body:

1. Give up bad habits. Smoking is harmful, alcohol is evil. They should not exist in the life of a healthy and successful person. If you can’t quit smoking, do it as rarely as possible and in specially designated areas.
2. Visit doctors. Go through a medical examination once a year. Do not neglect pain and discomfort - get treatment on time. Be attentive to your body.
3. Eat right, watch your weight. Eat healthy food. Avoid fast food, processed foods, high-calorie sweets, soda and alcohol. Eat small portions of food - do not overeat. Take vitamins. Eat fruits and vegetables. Follow a daily routine.

Self-development

Life is a constant development. Therefore, a successful person has no right to stand still. You need to develop, strengthen your erudition and your own strengths.

1. Reading will save the world. Read a lot of books. Delve into different genres and styles, write down the sayings you like. Delve into the news and interesting educational articles. Find out new information about distant countries, scientific discoveries, and cultural achievements. Watch quality documentaries and feature films periodically. This good passive relaxation will allow you to expand your horizons, increase the number of topics for communication in the company of friends, and help you have your own opinion in different areas.
2. Learn languages. Spend at least 30 minutes a day on exercise, and very soon the results will pleasantly please you. Watch movies, listen to music, read literature in the language you are learning. Try to practice. Improve yourself. Additional linguistic knowledge can open up new horizons and change everything in extraordinary ways.
3. Initiative and individuality are encouraged. Learn to do something with your own hands or with the help of technology, but so that the product or service is useful and competitive. This could be handicrafts, creativity within the beauty or wedding industry, sewing and repairing clothes, writing books and articles, repairing equipment, creating websites and programming. It all depends on what your heart is in. There should always be the possibility of additional income, which, by the way, can become the main one, bringing profit and pleasure. As they say, choose a job you like - and you won't have to work anymore.

Why set goals for yourself? 7 compelling reasons

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Most people fail to achieve their goals because they never really put them first. (Denis Whately, psychologists trainer in the field of mental capabilities)

Everyone has heard about the need to set goals since childhood. This advice has become so familiar that it is no longer perceived as useful. And the need for goal setting eventually loses its relevance for most.

But really, why set goals for yourself? Is a goal capable of making our lives better, and ourselves at least a little happier?

American writer Chuck Palahniuk once said: “If you don’t know what you want, you’ll end up with something you definitely don’t want.” A clear awareness of what we really need allows us to take concrete steps to get what we want. A life in which there are goals becomes meaningful and fulfilling, and achievements, even the most modest ones, bring moral satisfaction and quite tangible material results.

In fact, any person sets goals, even unconscious and illusory ones. Many people like to talk about what they would like to have, what they would like to change in their environment and in themselves. Some are not satisfied with their physical condition, others would like to devote more time to loved ones and favorite activities, others dream of a career and material well-being. But at the same time, few take it upon themselves to clearly formulate what exactly they want, what needs to be done for this and what paths should be taken to achieve the desired result.

Often people are simply afraid to make plans and set clearly defined goals for themselves. You know the saying: “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” It was probably invented by an incorrigible fatalist, not accustomed to taking responsibility for himself and his life.

Indeed, why plan and dream something when our whole life depends on the circumstances we find ourselves in and is full of obstacles and difficulties? It seems a much easier solution to simply wait for something good to “happen.” But for some reason this good thing “happens” extremely rarely. The result is a sea of ​​negative emotions and dissatisfaction with one’s own fate.

But a person who sets clear goals for himself lives differently: he perceives difficulties and obstacles on the path to his dream not as fatal bad luck, but as interesting tasks that can be realistically solved and move on. His life is filled with bright impressions, he is proud of himself and his achievements. From a passive extra, he turns into a director and builder of his own destiny.

To make sure that setting goals really helps make life better, let's try to formulate what specific benefits reasonable goal setting can provide.

Control over the situation

The comparison of human life to a fast river flow is not new, but it is quite clear. Imagine that you need to cross from one bank of a river to the other. A person who does not have a goal surrenders himself to the power of the flow of events and waits for the current to take him somewhere. Of course, ideally he would like to get to the other shore, but everything depends on the circumstances, i.e. depending on where the river takes him.

A person who is clearly aware of his goal - to get to a specific place on the opposite bank - will make every effort to get closer to the intended point: fight the current, row with all his might, calculate the trajectory of movement, etc. Which of these two do you think has a better chance of reaching the opposite shore? Undoubtedly, the one who strives to control the situation as much as possible in accordance with a clearly defined goal.

Meaning of life

This may make some people smile, but clearly defined goals really help you find meaning in your life. And not only due to the fact that a person knows exactly where to go. If everyday life turns from expectation into a path on which every step brings us closer to something concrete and definite, it cannot be called empty.

At the same time, every moment of existence acquires meaning, which makes the dream a little more real and closer, because the meaning of life is not so much in the result, but in the process. You yourself will be surprised what new emotions and unexpected pleasant surprises await you on this road, what opportunities will open up for you when implementing even such simple plans as daily walking, becoming slim, mastering the intricacies of sewing or knitting, or learning a foreign language. The only thing you lose by clearly defining tasks for yourself is the feeling that your life is wasted.

Productivity

By clearly articulating what exactly you want to achieve, you can identify individual tasks along the way to achieving your goal. Many of them will be quite feasible to solve in the very near future, and some – right now. Instead of abstract dreams, you will move on to concrete actions, step by step you will overcome specific difficulties and solve specific problems - which means you will really begin to move in the right direction and get tangible results almost immediately.

Self-confidence and enthusiasm

By solving clearly defined problems, you can easily evaluate the results of your efforts. For clarity, it is useful to record your achievements in the form of a table or graph - this way you can be sure at any time that your actions are bringing tangible results. This inspires and gives strength to move on.

Of course, you can keep notes in a regular notepad or in a file on your computer. But it’s much more convenient to do this with the help of our SmartProgress , designed specifically to help anyone clearly formulate their goals and make a plan to achieve them. Our specialist coaches and community members will help you not to stop halfway, they will definitely find words of support, advise you on how to increase your motivation, and, of course, rejoice with you in your new successes. By the way, recognition of your achievements by other people is a truly powerful source of increasing self-esteem and gaining confidence in yourself.

Such a system of compiling mini-reports and recording intermediate results will clearly demonstrate that you are really capable of a lot and will help you analyze what else is worth working on. Even one realized goal will make you understand that dreams can come true, you just have to put in the effort. The fear of making “massive plans” and doubts about one’s own abilities will give way to calm confidence and the desire to solve new problems.

Realization of the “impossible”

Dreams that seemed completely unattainable turn from castles in the air into real projects that are quite possible to realize. To do this, you just need to correctly determine which small steps can ultimately lead to your goal, identify intermediate tasks - and consistently work according to the plan. At the same time, to obtain results, perseverance and daily work are much more important than a flight of inspiration or a one-time “breakthrough” at the limit of one’s capabilities. And such a dubious thing as luck generally fades into the background.

"Feeling of deep satisfaction"

Jokes aside, clearly setting goals allows you to really achieve a lot in life and, most importantly, realize your successes and fully receive satisfaction from what you have achieved.

This is confirmed by numerous studies, as well as examples from the lives of famous successful personalities. People who purposefully move towards certain results rightfully feel proud of their achievements and strive for new ones. Why don't you follow their example?

Self-realization

Sometimes a person is not even aware of his capabilities and talents. Day after day, almost mechanically performing familiar actions, solving problems “as they arise,” he is confident that he is simply not capable of more.

The desired goal helps to expand the boundaries of routine existence, to get out of the so-called “comfort zone” - after all, you have to do something unusual every day, learn something new, and therefore change and develop, realize the hidden potential inherent in everyone.

Non-standard solutions necessary for the full implementation of our plans, meeting new people who can inspire or teach us something, the joy of realizing one’s own strengths and abilities - all this and much more becomes possible for a person working to make his dream come true.

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SMART(ER)

One of the most popular and proven methods of goal setting. Often used to manage organizations, departments and projects, but is also suitable for setting personal goals. The method was proposed in 1965 by motivation specialist Paul J. Meyer. It is believed that SMART guarantees the achievement of the desired result due to maximum specificity in the formulation of each parameter. In addition, one of the advantages of the method is a deep study of reality, and not just future achievements. Goals set according to SMART are achievable, measurable, specific and allow you to think through all the necessary nuances.

S specific : a precise, detailed description of the result you are striving for. The goal statement should answer two questions: what result are you striving for and why do you need this particular result. To correctly formulate your goal, it is recommended to ask six questions, which are also called the “W system”, since they all begin with this letter in English:

• Who (who)? Who sets the goal?
• What (what)? What is it going to achieve?
• Where (where)? Where is it all happening?
• When? When should the goal be achieved?
• Which (which)? In relation to what is the action being performed?
• Why (why)? Why do you want to achieve this goal?

M easurable (measurable): the result of the goal must have an accurate numerical expression, otherwise it will be difficult to determine its effectiveness.

Examples of correct and incorrect formulation of the result according to the two criteria considered: “Develop the project activities of the organization” is an incorrect formulation of the question. “Implement 5 projects to attract subscribers in 12 months” will sound correct. “I want to lose weight” is incorrect, “I want to lose 20 kilograms in 4 months” is formulated correctly.

A chievable (attainability): the item requires an assessment of how realistic it is to achieve a particular goal. To do this, it is necessary to analyze the surrounding circumstances and conclude whether there are enough resources to achieve the goal.

R elevant (relevance, importance): to achieve a goal you need to be highly motivated. Its presence or absence will show how significant this or that goal is for you.

Time bound : any goal can remain a dream if you do not define clear deadlines for its implementation. It is advisable to place intermediate reference points for achieving the goal.

Recently, ER has been added to this abbreviation - in total, SMARTER, or “even smarter”.

These two additional letters are responsible for feedback and motivation for the one who sets goals and achieves them.

E evaluation (feedback and evaluation): Without a regular planned feedback loop at every significant step, it is impossible to achieve even a simple goal, the environment is too complex and turbulent. Over the long haul, feedback also provides the right level of motivation and inspiration.

Reward encouragement or prize received for achievement): Our ability to see and celebrate progress determines long-term motivation. Notice and celebrate even small progress towards your goal. The more realistic and closer it will seem.

The SMART(ER) method is quite universal. Its main advantage is its clear detail. The method was criticized for its isolation from the personality of the performer and the implementation process, which is why it has two new elements. Today this method is perhaps the most famous in the field of goal setting.

Less complaints - more gratitude

Setting goals and achieving them is made difficult by the presence of mental imbalance. A healthy and positive spirit contains the greatest potential. If you want to reveal it as much as possible, put things in order in your soul and head:

1. Complain less. Modern life is full of stress. People absorb external negative energy like sponges, and they also create their own out of dissatisfaction and complaints. Remember: many people on the planet don’t have what you have! If negative emotions are overwhelming, change the environment for a while, and then look at the situation through a positive lens and note for yourself all the good that can be identified from what happened.
2. More gratitude. This standard of attitude towards the world is a continuation of the previous one. Thank God for your children, for your husband, for your living parents, for your friends. Be grateful for household chores - it means you have a home; for cooking duties - that means eating food; for the difficulties of organizing a celebration - it means there are relatives and friends; for difficult work moments - which means there is a prospect for development.