Formulating goals: 6 criteria to help you achieve them smartly

Reading time 6 minutes

Do you have lots of goals, but none of them seem to be within reach? This could be because you don't know how to formulate your goals. The way they are formulated has a significant influence on whether a project can become a reality.

Why is it important to formulate goals?

A concrete and realistically formulated goal increases the likelihood that you will really stick with it to the end: And that's what ultimately matters if you want to change something in your life! Concretely formulated goals, on the other hand, can make you lose your bearings. Goals that are too big can be demotivating.

How do I formulate a goal correctly?

If you know what to look out for, formulating goals is no longer that difficult. Your plan should be formulated positively in the present tense and describe the desired result as specifically as possible. It is also important that the wording allows you to measure success: After all, how else are you supposed to assess how close you are to your goal or whether you have achieved it?

At this point, we come to another important factor in formulating helpful goals: the time frame. A good goal formulation includes a time limit for when the result should be achieved. Without a time limit, you run the risk of unconsciously letting your efforts slip.

How big or small your goal should be can only be judged on the basis of your individual situation. Experience has shown that for personal Motivation It is much more advisable to formulate small goals that lead to quick, measurable success. Put simply, formulating goals should always take place within a realistic framework.

Formulate SMART goals: What does that mean?

Have you ever heard of the SMART method? Basically, this method briefly and concisely summarizes all the important factors that are important when formulating goals:

  • S: Specific: Is the objective formulated in concrete terms without room for interpretation?
  • M: Measurable: Are there concrete parameters for assessing progress and success?
  • A: Attractive: Are you really personally convinced of your project?
  • R: Realistic: Is achieving the goal within your sphere of influence?
  • T: Deadline: By when is the target achievable?
formulate smart goals

5 tips for formulating SMART goals

1. define goal

Formulate your goal as precisely as possible. It is best to do this in writing! Your wording must leave no room for interpretation. You need to know exactly what the final result should be.

2. motivating formulation

Make sure that your goal formulation feels good to you! It should motivate you to work towards your goal without putting you under psychological pressure. Also question whether it is really about your wishes or whether your goal formulation perhaps reflects the expectations of other people.

3. divide your goal into sub-steps

For larger goals in particular, it has proven useful to divide them into small steps. In this way, you can immediately measure whether your target project is moving in the right direction or whether it is stagnating.

4. realism

As already mentioned, it has proven to be a good idea to formulate smaller goals and then set yourself a new goal. Make sure that your goal formulation is realistic and that you formulate it accordingly.

5. set a deadline

Your smart goal formulation should always include a deadline: By when should the project be completed? The deadline is of course based on the scope and effort of your goal, but should preferably not be too far in the future.

Target formulations: Examples and instructions

Now you have already learned a few things in theory about what you need to consider when formulating goals. Now it's time for a few concrete examples that you can apply to your personal goals.

Example 1: Career topic

Instead of: "I would like to Career make."

Lieber: "I would like to be a member of the Team leader be promoted."

Example 2: Weight loss

Instead of: "I want to become slimmer."

Rather: "I want to lose 15 kilos in a year. My partial goal is at least half a kilo per week."

Example 3: Savings topic

Instead of: "I need a bigger financial cushion for vacations and purchases."

Rather: "I would like to save €3,000 in one year. I'll pay €250 into my savings account every month."

How coaching can help you achieve your goals

Professional coaching is ideal for people who have difficulty formulating goals. Using methods tailored to you, you will be given the tools you need to formulate profitable goals and ultimately achieve them. A coach helps youdiscover your own strengths and use them to your advantage.

The role of personality in achieving goals

How easy or difficult it is for you to formulate goals depends to a large extent on your personality. If you are more of a reserved person, you may formulate your goals more cautiously. This doesn't have to be a disadvantage! As you now know, realism is a significant factor. However, it is important that you don't underestimate yourself. Have a little more confidence in yourself step by step.

The more self-confident you are, the easier it will be for you to formulate positive and realistic goals that really come from yourself. If you find that your goals often fail or that you give up quickly, it may be useful to review your Self-confidence to focus on the future.

8 steps to achieve your goals

Step 1: Formulate clear goals

We never tire of repeating it: The first step is to formulate your goal as specifically as possible. Also set deadlines and sub-steps.

Step 2: Take action immediately

Once you have formulated your goal (e.g. using the SMART method), you should start implementing it immediately. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that you will discard your plan.

Step 3: Tell other people about it

In many cases, a little external encouragement helps. Once you have told other people about your goal, you may not give up as quickly as if nobody knows about it.

Step 4: Check your progress regularly

As already mentioned, it is helpful to set yourself milestones so that you can regularly check your progress. Depending on the project, you could, for example, take stock of how far your project has progressed on a fixed day of the week. For larger projects, perhaps once or twice a month.

Step 5: Adapt your strategy

If you find that you are not making progress, this is no reason to give up! Instead, you should rethink your strategy and make adjustments if necessary. Regular performance reviews will help you to take countermeasures at an early stage if your project is not developing as desired.

Step 6: Visualize your result

If you ever go through a phase of demotivation, keep the result in mind. Imagine exactly how it will feel when you have achieved your goal. This will give you a new boost.

Step 7: Get support

There is nothing wrong with seeking support in achieving your goals. Perhaps you know people who have achieved what you are currently striving for? Don't be afraid to ask them for advice.

Step 8: Evaluate the result and learn from it

Achieving personal goals is a great way to Feeling. Learn from your experiences for the next goal: What was good and what could you do differently for the next goal?

Common mistakes when formulating goals and how to avoid them

There are certain mistakes that occur again and again when formulating goals. The good news is that if you know the pitfalls, you can avoid them. These include

  1. Negative formulations: Formulating goals means describing what you want and not what you don't want. So avoid the words "not" and "no".
  2. Wrong motivation: Is it really your goal or is it something that society supposedly expects of you?
  3. Lack of measurability: Your goal is vague and it is not clear when success has been achieved. Avoid the words "more" and "less" when formulating goals. Concrete numbers are important!
  4. Unrealistic size: Your goal is so ambitious that you lose motivation before you've even started.

Your path to clear and achievable goals

Formulating goals correctly is the first step towards achieving them. In addition to a realistic Setting Goals it is important that you formulate your goal in concrete terms and make success measurable through milestones. The following has proven particularly effective for formulating goals profitably SMART Method.

To arrive at your own vision, you are welcome to take a little time and look at these Ask questions: If you could wish for anything and every possibility was open to you, what would be your greatest, your most beautiful goal? Here you can dare to go far. What do you really want to achieve? After all, this is about your own personal goals. What do you want? What do you wish for deep in your heart?

Do you know what really drives you at the core? What are the big dreams and goals of your life? If any of these questions make you think, "Actually, I don't really know ..." - then you've come to the right place! Download the free Greator Visions Challenge Workbook down.

With just three simple exercises you will very quickly be able to visualize your energy, identify your desires and define your greatest goal! Grab your guide for your future now and find your true vision.

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