In order to be more productive you need to crush your goals. The first step in this process, that’s right – it’s a process, is setting your goals. As a new year turns over many people have set goals such as losing weight, getting more active, finding a new job, getting more clients and so on. But are your goals on point? We’ve all heard about setting SMART Goals if you want to achieve them but what does this actually mean?

Define Your Goals

Without clearly defined goals you may find yourself jumping on every bandwagon without taking into consideration if it can truly benefit or if it is best for you. As you aim to boost your productivity you should always begin with the end in mind by setting clear goals. These will help to: 

• • Keep you focused 
  • Set timelines and deadlines
  • Actually get more done
  • Give a sense of pride when accomplished

How to Set Your Goals

There are several ways you can go about setting your goals. Most basic would be to write them down and display them on prominent locations you see everyday. These can be your phone or computer backgrounds, in your bedroom, homeschool area, at your desk or in your office. You can also use a daily planner or digital journal. You would usually write or type your goals at the beginning of period you’re tracking. This can be a week, month, 3-month period or year.

Goal Setting Models

Goal setting has become so integral to achieving success that there are several popular goal setting models which have been developed to guide the process. These models help you to not only clearly identify goals but provide a framework which can aid you in successfully achieving them. Let’s jump right in and see what some of these models actually are. Here are 3 of my favorite ones:

SMART Goal Setting Model to Crush Your Goals

This is the one most people who are serious about setting goals are familiar with. The famous acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound. This foundation model helps you to set clear goals by going through a process of identifying the required aspects for your goals.

Let’s take the example of weight loss. If we were to create a SMART goal for a women aged 35 weighing 200 lbs, this could look like:

Specific – goals must be clearly defined. Instead of saying you want to lose weight, your goal could be to lose 20 lbs.

Measurable – In order to measure the weight loss you need to utilize a scale not just looking at how your clothes fit after a couple months. Starting weight would be 200 lbs and desired weight 180 lbs.

Attainable – What is your current lifestyle? Are you planning to make any changes to achieve your goal? You may enroll in a gym or exercise class as well as consult a Nutritionist for advice and a diet plan. If you are not planning on making changes to your diet or increasing your exercise the goal may not be attainable.

Realistic – If you are 200 lbs it would be quite unrealistic to expect to lose 100lbs in 1 week. Your desired weight may be 140 lbs so you can set goals to lose 20lbs every 6 months – 1 year, based on your dedication and commitment to your goal.

Timebound – Of course time is a major factor. Setting deadlines helps us to focus on achieving our goals. 

Your smart goal for weight loss would be: To lose 20 lbs within 6 months

GROW Goal Setting Model

The GROW model takes it a bit further than just setting smart goals. GROW stands for Goal, Current Reality, Options (or Obstacles) and Will (or Way Forward). The model was originally developed in the 1980s by business coaches Graham Alexander, Alan Fine, and Sir John Whitmore.

The GROW model above outlines the steps involved in goal setting

• • First off, you identify your goals
  • Secondly, you need to define your present reality. If you are unable to change your lifestyle or have hindrances, you would need to take these into consideration when setting your goals.
  • Thirdly, look at your options. Let’s use the weight loss example. What options do you have to incorporate exercise into your daily routine? Do you need or can afford a home gym? Can you fit in an hour after work before you get home?
  • Lastly, there’s the will or your way forward. It’s always 90% about your mindset. You need to push yourself to achieve your goals. If needed, enroll in a class or hire a coach. This will keep you motivated, help with accountability and keep you on the right track. This stage is very important as you need to assess whether or not your plan is working or getting any closer to achieving your goal. If not, revisit step 1 and revise your goal.

You should always periodically review and update your Goals. Remember not achieving a goal is a learning opportunity, not a cause to call it quits.

The 5Ps Goal Setting Model

Your goals may look nice on paper but how are you going to achieve them? What mindset and tools should you possess to be successful at achieving your goals? This is where the 5P goal setting model comes in. The 5P model stands for Passion, Persistence, Planning, People and Positivity.

Passion

How bad do you want it? If you want to be successful you need to have a will and a drive to succeed in spite of any obstacles which may come your way. A lackluster attitude will only lead to failure.

Persistence

If a baby gives up and refuses to try to walk after they fall the first time they would never become an olympic sprinter. Similarly, failure will come. It is a part of life. It is how we deal with that failure, learn from our mistakes and press on will truly determine our success. Persistence is really the key to success.

Planning

While failure is a part of life, how bad you fail can be mitigated with proper planning. When planning your goals you should:

• Create SMART Goals
• Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which can affect your goals
• Identify what resources you have at your disposal and what you may require – financial and otherwise
• Have a detailed plan for achieving your goals
• Monitor and evaluate along the way
• Have a Contingency Plan

People

One necessary part of achieving your goals, that is often overlooked, is your support system.  This can be a coach, mentor, family, friends, community or sometimes even a complete stranger. Your community can provide guidance, feedback, support and motivation. This gives you that boost you need to succeed even when you may doubt yourself.

Positivity

We all know that having the right mindset is the foundation to success and goes a long way in achieving your goals. Having a positive mindset will allow you to see obstacles as challenges, failures and setbacks as learning experiences and of course your glass as half full.

How to Choose the Right Goal Setting Model for You

Selecting a goal setting model would be based on a number of factors including your personal preference, what you expect or desire to achieve as well as your current resources. Ideally you would need to: 

• Identify a goal
• Set a plan for achieving your goal
• Stick to the plan
• Be successful

Conclusion – Crush Your Goals To Set the Stage for Success

There are many methods to setting your goals from creating Vision Boards to elaborate Business or yearly life Plans. Whichever you choose, goal setting should involve:

• Setting SMART Goals – realistic yet exciting
• Setting a Plan to Achieving – break down to bit sized, conquerable items
• Planning Your Work
• Working your Plan
• Rinse and Repeat – superhero mom status activated

Goal setting, planning and execution are essential to boosting your productivity. As you focus on ensuring you crush your goals be sure to remember the bigger picture.  That is why you set them in the first place – whether it be to achieve greater freedom, spend more quality time with your family or even earn additional income. Setting and seeing your tasks unfold as you crush your goals will do wonders for your productivity.

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