What Harvard scientists say about goal setting

• Studies show that goal setting can increase your success compared to those who don’t do this.
• Setting SMART goals is essential to actually achieve your goals.
• You should have both short and long-term goals.

The science is in from Harvard, and it turns out that goal setting can be one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to achieve success. This article explains why goal setting may be your best strategy for achieving those accomplishments you never thought were possible.

Defining goal setting

In the most simple of terms, goal setting is the process of planning, organizing, and implementing a course of action to achieve a future objective. People have different types of goals, some of which involve personal, professional, or relationship goals.

In other words, goals are something you work towards with the end in mind and firmly in your sights. 

What studies show about goal setting

According to studies conducted by Ewin A. Locke, the creator of Locke’s Goal Setting Theory, the blueprint for goal achievement in the modern workplace, those who routinely set goals, and made more ambitious goals, had better outcomes than others who didn’t set personal goals.

Harvard Business School also claimed that students who completed well-written and well-planned goals positively affected their achievements and performance at school.

To further evaluate the claims made by Harvard, Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University conducted her own study about goal setting to either dispute or substantiate the school’s assessments.

She conducted an experiment using 267 participants who were in professional networking groups and businesses. With the use of control groups, she concluded that setting goals and writing them down were significant influencers in furthering the success of the individuals who set goals versus those who didn’t.

How to set the right goals

These studies show that simple goal setting is a significant contributor to personal success. However, setting the right goals is just as important as making the goals themselves.

The first step towards achieving your goals is understanding them. What are you trying to accomplish with your life?

As you start to think about specific areas of your life you would like to improve and future goals you want to achieve, it’s important to understand how you should structure your plans.

SMART goals help you identify precisely what you want to achieve, when you want to achieve it, and how to measure your progress to keep you motivated.

SMART goals are defined as:

1. Specific: Be specific when describing your goal. If possible, be very clear about exactly what you want to achieve. This helps you focus on the task ahead and avoid distractions from other things going around in your life. Don’t use vague terms like “to become successful” or “how to find happiness.” Use precise words instead.

2. Measurable: Make sure that your goal can be measured objectively, so you know whether you are making progress or need to make adjustments. For example, if you want to lose weight, set specific periods to weigh yourself and record your losses or gains.

Make sure there is a way to measure whether or not you are moving in the right direction. 

3. Attainable: Your goal should also be achievable and shouldn’t seem like an impossible feat. Your goals should be achievable in the timeframe you’ve chosen.

4. Relevant: Make sure that your goal fits within your values and interests. Setting unrealistic expectations could lead to disappointment if you fail to meet them. Keep this in mind while defining your goals.

5. Timely: Set realistic deadlines for yourself. This will help keep you accountable and ensure you don’t procrastinate.

Examples of SMART goals:

1. “I will lose 25 pounds within the next six months.”

2. “I will increase my income by onboarding five new clients in the next three months.”

3. “I will pay off $3,000 on my credit card by next March.”

Working towards goals requires constant self-evaluation

SMART goals are so effective because they evaluate how well we’re doing against our standards. This helps us identify areas where improvement can take place. It also allows us to learn new skills and develop better strategies to reach our goals.

The most important thing is that you make your goals specific and measurable to know precisely how you’re doing and if adjustments need to be made. 

Defining short term goals

There are two main categories of goals defined as short and long-term goals. It’s essential to understand the difference between the two and ensure you have identified both long and short-term goals for your life.

Short-term goals are defined as goals you would like to achieve next week, month, quarter, or even year. In addition, you can set ongoing short-term goals that give you something concrete to work towards regularly, such as setting a monthly budget.

Setting long-term goals

Long-term goals can be more difficult than short-term ones, but they often provide more significant rewards. Long-term goals require planning and strategy. For example, they may involve changing jobs, moving to a new location, starting up a business, getting married, having children, buying a home, etc. These types of goals usually require some research and preparation.

It’s best to break these long-term goals into smaller chunks which makes them easier to manage.

Accomplish long-term goals by focusing on milestones

Milestones are small steps taken between larger ones. Milestone planning allows you to break large tasks into smaller parts which makes them easier to complete.

For instance, let’s say you want to write a book. Instead of sitting down to write an entire book, it’s better to plan out each section and create milestone dates for completing each one. By breaking up a long-term goal into smaller chunks, you won’t get overwhelmed and stressed out thinking about everything you still need to do.

Keep yourself motivated through rewards

When you complete one of your goals, reward yourself. A simple treat or gift might suffice, but sometimes an extra night away from the computer or TV is enough to motivate you to continue working hard.

As you set out to create your own short and long-term goals, it’s important to remember you must define your goals clearly if you expect to accelerate your progress.