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Tip 47 – Creating Goals for Success
People who write out clearly defined goals and objectives are more successful than
those who do not have a defined plan. However, less than 3% of the population has
a complete goals program. These statistics come from an often quoted story of the
Yale University class of '53 (see note). They conducted a goal-setting study, where
the 400 graduating students were asked to write down their lifelong plan or goal.
Of the 400 people in the class, only 12 actually wrote down their lifelong plan in
a useful manner.
Twenty years later, the class had a reunion. The group that had
written down their goals seemed happier overall than the rest of the class. The fact
that the 12 goal setters had a combined worth in excess of the rest of the group
may have contributed to their happiness.
The way you construct a goal is vitally important (see also Tip 22), so here are some ‘rules’ for creating useful goals.
The Seven Golden Rules of Goals
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A coach can help you define your goals, make a plan and in many other ways.
There are two different sorts of goals:
The outcome goal: the destination, where you are heading
The process goal: your journey, how you are going to get there
1 Goals are expressed in the positive.
This only applies to the outcome goal.
2 Make the goal specific.
Make your outcome goal as specific as possible.
For tangible goals, describe them as exactly as possible.
For abstract goals, specify evidence that will let you know that you have the goal.
The further into the future, the less specific you need to be about the goal.
Long-term goals set directions.
3 Decide how you will get evidence and feedback for achievement.
For an outcome goal, set the evidence that will tell you that you have achieved it.
For the journey, decide on the feedback to pay attention to.
What are you measuring?
How will you measure your progress? Relative to yourself or relative to another person?
How often will you measure your progress?
4 Marshall your resources.
You need resources on the journey, not the destination.
Resources can be: objects, people, time, role models, personal qualities.
Use resources to give leverage. Leverage is the principle of getting the most effect for the smallest effort, and it may mean stopping doing things just as much as doing them.
Which resources do you have already? Which ones do you need to develop?
5 Be proactive.
This principle applies to the journey, not the destination. Being proactive means thinking and acting ahead. It's a great method for avoiding more work down the road but also can be extremely important for averting disasters, planning well for the future and for instituting systems at work, in study and at home that make life easier for not just you, but others as well.
6 Pay attention to the wider system.
This rule applies to both destination and journey.
What are the consequences for other people, groups or organisations?
What is the cost in time, money and opportunity?
What is important in the present circumstances that you leave behind?
7 Make an action plan
The action plan divides the goal into smaller steps. It is the ‘map’ of the journey.
To define an action plan, you need to know your values. All goals are generated by values. Find your core values by asking “What does that (goal) get for you?” More on values in Tip 11.
To make the plan, work backward from the goal.
Note: I did some research to find a reference for the Yale study and found that it is most probably a myth see: Yale goal study. Brian Tracy on hearing this finding said: "I heard this story originally from Zig Ziglar. If it's not true it should be."