How Good Is Your Goal Setting?

Think back to a time when you set yourself a goal but didn't achieve it. Perhaps you planned to get fitter, or learn a new language.

You probably felt frustrated when you realized that you'd failed. But did you reflect on what went wrong, and think about how you could improve next time?

If you repeatedly miss the targets that you've set yourself at work, you may find that your career begins to stall. For example, if you keep failing to develop new skills, other team members might get promoted ahead of you. And if you become known as someone who sets goals but doesn't achieve them, this can affect your professional reputation.

Take our short quiz to explore your goal-setting approach, and to learn about some of the obstacles that can get in your way. Then, follow our tips to give yourself the best chance of fulfilling your ambitions.

Instructions

Answer the following statements as you actually are (rather than as you think you should be!) When you've finished, click the "Calculate My Total" button to get your score. Then, use the tips that follow the quiz to improve your goal-setting skills.

Preparing to Set Goals
(Questions 1, 5, 6, 9, 11)

Many people miss out this stage when they set goals, and they struggle later as a result. The planning step is essential because you need to tie your personal goals to your personal values and dreams (and not to the goals and dreams of other people). This will help to motivate you when times get tough. (Our article on Intentional Change Theory explains why this is so important.)

If you're unclear about your own long-term goals, use a planning tool such as Schein's Career Anchors to explore what motivates you.

If you're new to goal setting, read our article on Locke's Goal-Setting Theory. Here, we explain why goals matter, and we outline what SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals are.

Forming Goals
(Questions 2, 10, 12, 14)

You are probably familiar with the idea of goal setting, but how do you make sure that your goals are SMART? If you need guidance on setting SMART goals, read our article before you start. Then, familiarize yourself with goal-setting mistakes to make sure that you are not unintentionally holding yourself back.

Spend some time imagining the positive impact that achieving your goals will have on your life. See our article on "Using Well-Formed Outcomes in Goal Setting" to find out why this is so important.

Also, think about the times when you haven't been successful, or when a project has failed. Reflect on what went wrong, and whether there was anything you could have done differently - then take what you've learned and apply it to your new goals.

Motivation
(Questions 3, 4, 7, 13, 16, 17, 18)

There are plenty of ways that you can support yourself if you start to lose motivation during a tough patch.

Look for some quick wins right from the start. Keep working towards your goals by building them into your To-Do List or action program, and "park" other good ideas until you can do something about them - this will help you keep on top of multiple goals without getting distracted by exciting new ideas.

If you lose motivation, explore what is making you feel demotivated. Do you struggle with self-discipline, a lack of time or a drifting sense of purpose? Redesign your goals around your time commitments if you need to, or create smaller sub-goals to give yourself some "easy wins" to boost your enthusiasm.

It's also OK to ask for support from friends or colleagues. For example, you may want them to remind you of your bigger-picture dreams when you're finding things tough.

And remember: change is difficult, even when you're working towards something you want.

Achieving Goals
(Questions 8, 15)

As you get nearer to your goal, plan how you'll celebrate success. This will spur you on to cross the finishing line!

You need to make time to recognize and enjoy your achievement - for your own sake, as well as to thank those who have supported you along the way.

After you've acknowledged your success, take time to reflect on the process of achieving your goal. Think about what you found tough, what went wrong, and what went better than you expected. Build that self-knowledge into your future goal-planning.