How to Set Goals

Setting goals is easier than it sounds. You just need to set it smartly and by saying this word, I mean, to use the technique “S.M.A.R.T.” In this age when we have smart phone, smart tv, smart class then why not smart goal. S.M.A.R.T. is just an acronym which is developed to ease out goal setting process.

S = Specific

M= Measurable

A= Attainable

R= Relevant

T = Time bound

Specific

Clarity is needed everywhere, be it communication or management, then why it should be used in goal setting. The clearer the goal, the better will be to focus and to make decisions. This goal should specify why do you want to accomplish the given objective.

For a student, getting marks is important, so his goal can be to get good marks. Suppose he says that his goal is to achieve good marks. He is not specific why he wants good marks. On the other hand, if he says I want good marks so that I get recognized by my classmates. Here, he has specified the reason for his goal.

In the first case, the motivation level will be low because he doesn’t know why he wants to get good marks, but in the second case, there is a strong desire to get recognition. This will act as a motivator for him.

Similarly, if you are an employee your goal can be to learn a new skill, so that your work can improve. Likewise, your goal should tell the importance of achieving the goal.

Measurable

The word clearly means using quantitative data. In business, a prediction is made about the objective and when it is completed, we will check whether the prediction was right or not. This is a good way to check the progress.

If we take the goal of securing good marks for recognition. This does not imply what is the percentage of good marks. For some it is around 95%, for some it is 80% and for some it is 60%. A student can crack UPSC when he secures, merely 35%. It is different in every situation.

We just need to add a quantity to set a benchmark for us. It adds clarity to the goal. So, now the goal becomes – To secure 80% marks overall to get recognition. This will help to evaluate your performance and to find the mistakes you are making.

Attainable

If you are willing to put your effort then nothing is impossible for you. In this step, it is very important that you know your capabilities and then act accordingly. You should aim that big that it stretches your limit to the maximum but at the same time, be realistic.

We all know that getting over 80% is not a one night study. For that you continuously needs to put efforts. Set goals according to your capacity. This way, you can improve yourself. You must remember that sometimes, what you plan will not be accomplished and for some, that can lead to self-doubt. So, it’s better to challenge your limits but don’t overdo it.

If your capacity is that you can study for two-hours daily, then set your goals by managing your time that way. If your capacity is that you can finish one book every month and then do it that way. Gradually, increase your capacity.

Relevant

To complete your goal, time management is very important. The basic rule to manage your time properly is to cut out the irrelevant activities and focus on the more important ones. Similarly, you should set those goals which are important for you.

As a student, if you think that you need to devote atleast one hour extra in mathematics, accountancy or geography, to score the marks you desire, you should make that your goal as well. If you think that by developing public speaking skill, you can be productive in your department, then do that.

Time bound

No matter where you are working and what you are doing, whenever the submission date of any assignment, project or task is nearby, you tend to focus on completing it and become more productive. It proves that it is important to set a time frame while working on any task.

What it does is that it keeps reminding us that we have to complete it before a certain amount of time. So, add a certain amount of time to your goals as well and you will see that you will achieve many of these and hopefully every goal that you want.

So, the final goal of the student becomes – To study regularly for the next six months to score more than 80% and get recognition. The goal tells the importance of completing it (specific), it is measurable, attainable, relevant and by completing in six months we have set a time for it. Likewise, use the S.M.A.R.T. rule technique to set any goals for you.

How To Achieve Goals?
One more way of how to set goals.