Goal setting can go wildly wrong for a number of reasons. When this happens, it is very easy for you to lose faith in the goal achievement process - not to mention that your pride can take a beating.
Let’s take a closer look at (5) goal setting mistakes to avoid.
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Setting “out of control” Outcome Goals
“Out of control” outcome goals refers to setting objectives that focus on getting end results that are out of your control. For example, you set a personal goal of graduating at the top of your class. However, you have no control over the performance of other students in your class. As such, you are vulnerable to having someone else edge you out of the top spot even after you have put full effort into your studies.
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Goals Set Unrealistically High. When a goal is seen as unreachable within the set timelines, enthusiasm to complete the goal fades very quickly. For example, you have only just started learning karate, but you have set a goal of being able to break concrete blocks with your bare hands in the next three months.
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Goals Set Unrealistically Low. Goal setting is a means to an end in the process of building new skills and improving your self confidence. Setting goals that are too easily achieved are a waste of time, because you do not develop your willpower or any new skills in the process of achieving such easy targets.
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Vague Goals. Vague goals have no start or finish line and that’s why they usually remain undone. Perhaps the most popular vague goal is “I want to be rich”. There is no stated timeframe, steps to be taken or identification of the key short term goals that will need to be achieved on the way to becoming rich. So it comes as no surprise, that people who do not move beyond simply saying such vague goals do not achieve them.
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Many Competing Top Goals. Your top goals must work together or they will pull your life apart. For example, life goals such as starting a family and getting a promotion to a senior corporate management positions should not be top goals at the same time. New corporate management positions usually require that long hours be spent learning your new roles. This can eat into the evening time that would be required for your young family. Such competing top goals can lead to you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.
When goal setting goes wrong, not only are the benefits of goal setting lost, but the whole process of future goal setting can be derailed. Now that you know the five biggest goal setting mistakes, be sure to avoid making them in your personal success journey.