What is Goal Setting?
Everyone has a view of what goal setting is all about. Unfortunately, many people have a limited perception of this concept. Meanwhile, when you don’t have a sound understanding of this idea, it will hamper your chances of setting goals and achieving them. Therefore, we will start this blog by exploring what goal setting is and what it’s not. We will also highlight some common hindrances to achieving your targets. This knowledge will ensure that you start the year on the right note.
Scientists, especially psychologists, have always been interested in goal-setting and related topics. They believe that it is a powerful motivator whose relevance has been evident in various clinical and practical settings for decades. There is no goal setting without a goal. Therefore, it’s logical to understand the meaning of a goal before exploring goal setting. According to Latham and Locke, in 2002, a goal is an aim or objective of an action. For instance, it can be in the form of achieving a level of proficiency within a time frame. So, your goals are the levels of competence you want to achieve.
They also serve as a useful lens through which you evaluate your current performance. Meanwhile, goal setting is the process that empowers you to achieve your targets. According to Locke, you can only underestimate the importance of this process at your peril. Every person’s life depends on the goals they choose to pursue. In other words, the kind of objectives you have shows your personality. For example, a person is termed to be evil because he or she has plans to hurt others. In the same way, the people we see as good individuals are perceived that way because they have goals that benefit others.
Experts like Locke believe that it’s impossible to achieve anything tangible in life without setting goals. An individual who does not engage in this process is a passive person who merely exists. Latham and Locke developed the goal-setting theory in 1984 to explain this process. According to the theory, conscious goals determine action. They explain that human behaviors are products of their goals. In other words, you need to determine what is beneficial to you before you act. So, you should not take the process of goal setting for granted. You cannot achieve your desire to make this year the best ever without understanding how to set goals.
Your goals give direction to your actions. Two individuals can have similar talents and opportunities. However, one may succeed far more than the other by being more deliberate and focused. Goals give you the edge and motivation to recognize opportunities. If you don’t know what you want, you’ll not be able to leverage the changes that come your way. For many people, they end up realizing that they have messed up later on when they have a definite pursuit. It’s often too late to make amends most times.
7 Exciting Facts About Goal Setting
Experts have studied goal setting and have made some interesting discovering worth noting. Here are some of them:
#1 Setting Goals Enhances Academic Success
This fact will excite you if you are a student. According to many studies, around 25% of undergraduates don’t complete their studies because they lack specific goals and motivation. However, goal-setting intervention programs have turned things around for many.
#2 Setting Goals Improves Motivation
Goals and motivation are two inseparable things. Most experts include goals whenever they define motivation. This constant incorporation is a sign that goal setting is essential to build momentum for achieving success in any endeavor in life. A 1981 review confirms that people who set goals are often motivated and have higher chances of succeeding in various tasks.
#3 Goal Setting is Linked to the Flow State
The flow state is a concept in positive psychology that refers to a mental state when a person is fully immersed and enjoying the process of an activity. Many people describe this feeling as “being in the zone.” Scientists believe that setting goals helps people have this experience.
#4 Optimism is Vital to the Goal Setting Process
Optimism is a positive expectation. Experts believe that it’s a crucial ingredient for successful goal setting and goal-achievement. According to a 2010 study, people who are optimistic in their approach to setting targets have a higher chance of achieving their objectives.
#5 Goal Setting Improves Performance
Definite and challenging targets improve performance, according to a 1996 study. The study compared the effect of non-specific goals such as “I will try my best” and specific targets. The result showed that people who don’t have definite objectives often do less than their capability.
#6 High Self-Efficacy Plays a Role in Goal Setting
Self-efficacy is the confidence you have in your ability to achieve a task before you do it. Experts believe that people with high self-efficacy are likely to set challenging targets and commit to achieving them. Such individuals put themselves under pressure and have the self-belief to sustain their focus and momentum.
#7 Goal Setting is Superior to Monetary Incentives
Many people often assume that monetary incentives are good enough to make a person achieve a goal. However, research proves otherwise. An individual can still fail to accomplish a task despite the money involved. Nonetheless, an effective goal-setting process often provides the focus to achieve a task that money cannot offer, according to a 1979 study.
Author
Dr. Vijay Viraj is empowering employees for the last 7+ years and has been trained many people to perform best in their workplace. His EMPLOYEE FREEDOM MODEL training program has helped many employees to achieve their desired salary hike, promotion, and leadership skills to skyrocket their job career to a new level.