OVERCOME THE COMMON CHALLENGES OF GOAL SETTING
Goal setting can be an intimidating process and there are many reasons that people avoid it. To help you achieve your aspirations, avoid these common pitfalls:

Challenge: Setting impractical goals

Solution: Often, people set goals that may be unrealistic to achieve right now. However that’s not to say that the goal wouldn’t be viable after sometime and or training. Break large goals into smaller, measurable short-and mid-term goals.

Challenge: Fearing Failure

Solution: While some people set the bar too high, others set the bar too low or don’t set it at all to avoid disappointment. Don’t let the fear of failure paralyze you- continue to create challenging goals that propel you forward. Studies show that the additional effort and motivation required to achieve challenging goals makes them more fulfilling to accomplish than easier goals.1

Challenge: Not having a plan

Solution: A major part of goal setting is creating a plan of action to complete the task. To improve the chances of reaching the goal, give yourself a deadline and stick to it. Deadlines will hold you accountable to your goals and help you track your progress.

*Men are 22% more likely to achieve a goal when it is specific and written down, whereas women are 10% more likely to achieve a goal when they have told others about it. 2

Sources:

1.        Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2006

2.        BBC News, Dec. 28, 2007