GoalSetting

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Goal-Setting
Lisa J. Downs

• American Society for Training Development

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The Purpose of Goals

• To act as a compasspoint the way
• To help us prioritize activities
• To boost our sense of accomplishment and
  satisfaction

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Types of Goals

• Critical goals must be accomplished to be
  successful
• Enabling goals fulfill a long-term, but not
  immediate, need
• Nice-to-have goals improvements to enhance your
  life or work, but not crucial

Source Roberto, Michael. Time Management.
Boston, MA Harvard Business School Publishing,
2005.
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Types of Goals (contd.)

• Critical goal Improve profitability within two
  years.
• Enabling goal Update marketing materials to
  recruit new employees.
• Nice-to-have goal Improve catering choices for
  company events.

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Goal-Setting Tips

• Record goals in specific terms avoid being
  vague.
• Put a timeframe around goal achievement.
• Decide how progress will be measured.
• Align goals with important priorities and
  strategies.
• Stretch yourself, but dont overdo it.

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Goal-Setting Steps

• 1. Create a list of major life roles or
  categories, such as family, work, self, finances,
  community, etc.
• 2. Next to each category, write down what you
  see yourself doing in 10 years these statements
  are your long-term goals.
• 3. Break each goal down into smaller pieces by
  recording two or three specific actions next to
  each statement.

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Goal-Setting Steps (contd.)

• 4. Create smaller tasks from the specific
  actions.
• 5. Schedule these tasks into your planning
  system.
• 6. Review your goals and activities a minimum of
  once a year revise as needed.

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An Example

• Category Self
• 10 Years from Now I will have my MBA
  degree.
• Specific Activities Research MBA programs
• Decide timing.
• Investigate funding.
• What tasks should now be scheduled?

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Goal Alignment

• If working in an organization, goals should
  cascade down.
• Department or team goals should align with
  company goals.
• Individual goals should align with department or
  team goals.

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Importance of Goals

• Effective time management starts with having
  clearly defined goals.
• Goals give us purpose and a road map to guide us.
• When goals are in writing, opportunities follow.