Doing goal setting is not just about writing down your goals on a piece of paper. There is so much more to it. There are several best practices to follow to ensure that your goal setting practice is effective and can makes a desired impact.

Here are some guidelines on how to set goals ;

1. The reason ” What is your reason for that goal? Whenever you set goals, make sure to write down the reason in detail next to that goal. Having a strong reason keeps you on track when the going gets tough. It will keep you going and not give up.

2. Be specific ” Make your goals specific. The more specific and detailed it is the better. Having specific goals helps you understand and figure out the what, why, when, who and how of the process of achieving a goal.

3. Short and long term goals ” Remember to set both short term and long term goals. The long term goal is your ultimate outcome or goal, whereas short term goals are to achieve the various stages or steps of getting the ultimate goal.

4. Schedule ” Always schedule your goals. Set a timeline for the achievement of both your long and short term goals. Also, set schedules for taking action, or performing certain tasks that are related to achieving the goals.

5. Review and track your progress ” Consistently and review the goals that you have set. Track how far youve come and analyze the map of your progress. In addition to helping you identify obstacles or wrong turns, tracking your progress can be very motivating as you see the results of your hard work.

6. Be decisive – Be decisive in your goal setting and stick to it. Dont get into the habit of constantly changing your goals.

7. Rewards ” Always reward yourself for achieving a goal that you set out. In fact, make it part of your goal setting. That means when you set your goals, also set the rewards that you will give yourself for achieving it. This will give you a much needed motivation.

8. Take action immediately ” Always perform an action towards the attainment of a goal after you have completed the goal setting process. Never leave the site of your goal setting without taking some immediate action. This takes advantage of the momentum built during the goal setting and amplifies your motivation.