Goal Setting Defined:
KEY POINTS
Start From the Beginning: Define Your Goal
You must define a powerful and personally meaningful dream goal. Think of it as your objective. Start by thinking about how it affects you:
Begin to define your dream. Ask yourself the following questions and be sensitive to the first thought or image that pops into your mind.
This is a challenging yet crucial first step because it requires you to think creatively about, what’s really important to you. Your responses will be used to develop your Outcome Goal and its timeline.
Based on your brainstorming, identify your personally meaningful Outcome Goal that is worth pursuing this year and record it on a Goal Setting Worksheet on the appropriate line.
Know your status now: Try a gut check.
A gut check requires brutal objectivity.
This is where reality sets in. The time for dreaming big must be balanced with an objectively honest self-analysis about where you are at this moment, what assets you have to leverage, and what limitations are standing in your way.
Define Priority Areas
Decide what you need to develop.
At this point, you have two important pieces of information:
To achieve your Outcome Goal, there are some main areas of your life that will require immediate attention and improvement. These will become your “Big Rock” priorities.
To begin closing the gap between where you are and where you want to go, you’ll have to focus your energy and effort on the activities and thoughts that will have the greatest benefit. You can identify these by answering the question: “What main areas of myself do I need to develop to make my dream come true?”
“Maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test” provides a simple example of setting priorities.
Priorities might include:
KEY POINTS
Set and Pursue Short-Term Goals
Now, it’s time to get down and dirty with Goal Setting. You’ve already identified a personally meaningful Outcome Goal, corresponding priorities, as well as Action and Power Statements for each priority area. It’s unrealistic and impossible to achieve every action and power statement on the goal plan every day. So, you must set at least one daily goal that directs effort to some aspect of the goal plan by answering, “What will I do right now?”
The vision you identified during Step 1 may take months or even years to realize, and to keep yourself excited and energized through this time short-term goals are critical to your success. Setting and achieving short-term goals provide you with immediate feedback. If your actions aren't producing change then you’ll know it is time to rethink them.
There is no short-term goal more important than the one you make for today. The present moment is the only place where you have any true control, which means that your personal life and your Army career are nothing more than the sum of all of your “today’s.” Going to PT each morning with a specific goal in mind, such as completing every repetition of every exercise with complete focus, or hitting your target split times for each mile, means you have a purpose for that session. “Purpose” is another word for “intent,” and this “intent” is what makes “intensity” possible.
DAILY GOAL = PURPOSE = INTENT = INTENSITY
The most effective use of this technique involves setting both an Action Goal and an Attitude Goal for each day. These should be directly relevant to some aspect of your larger goal plan. A blend of the right actions and attitudes helps you consistently do the right things while focusing on the state of mind that will help you reach your long-term goals. Record these daily in a planner, green book, cell phone note section, etc. !
Commit Yourself Completely
What strategies might you adopt to keep your goals present in your mind? Be creative...
Example: Post my goals on my fridge so I can see them daily. Use my goal sheet as a computer screensaver. Ask my friends and family to remind me.
KEY POINTS
“The difference between being involved and committed is like the difference between the pig’s
contribution and the chicken’s contribution to a ham and eggs breakfast— the chicken is involved,
but the pig is committed.”
~Martina Navratilova, World Champion tennis player
Continually Monitor Your Progress
Every day, you’re given the opportunity to ask yourself, “Am I getting closer to what really matters to me?” This question can only be answered if you keep your eyes open and monitor your progress. Are you in fact getting closer?
Is your action plan paying off? Are you recognizing your improvements and forward progress? Examining your progress is as important as making progress.
KEY POINTS
PERSONAL GOAL EVALUATION
This form requires your dedicated attention for about 10-15 minutes at the end of the week.
Record three things that went well related to your goals. Also, record two
things you want to improve for the next week based on your progress and results.
List three “Confidence Builders” based on your performance this past week. Consider your goal successes and progress made towards your goal when listing these items.
List two “Competence Builders” based on your goal results from this past week. Consider areas that need improvement or more direct attention when listing these items.