If you have ever struggled to hit your to-do list goal, the challenge might not be that you are lazy. You lack the major ingredient of getting things done: having effective goal-setting strategies for productivity.

The difference between someone who gets things done and the other who battles procrastination is having goal-setting strategies that fuel productivity.

The Ying to your Yang in achieving success and living a productive life is an effective goal-setting strategy.

In this blog post, we will discuss goal setting why goal setting is important, the different types of goals, effective goal-setting strategies and how to track and measure progress.

Let’s Go!

Goal Setting Defined

Goal setting is the process of penning down your plans and actions, tying them down to specific timelines and having a measurable steps to achieving them.

This is important because it helps you identify clear and concise actions you need to take tot to achieve your plans.

For instance, if you plan to lose weight. This can be said to be just a wish as it is not actionable, specific, time-bound or even achievable.

However, a plan to lose weight might sound like ….” I want to lose 2kg by the first quarter of the year”. This sounds more like an actionable and achievable plan.

Therefore, goal setting does not stop at having a plan. It requires further actions and inactions which we will discuss later in this article.

Goals setting plays a pivotal role in building accountability, discipline and motivation to get things done leading to overall productivity.

Why Goal-Setting Is Necessary?

Think of goal setting as the engine oil that keeps the engine functional and running. Do you know you can shop for motivation simply by setting goals?

 Remember that popular song? “Today I don’t feel like doing anything….I just wanna lay in my bed”

 If there is no goal setting in sight, this might be your reality every morning. Hence, goal setting becomes crucial in achieving success and living a productive life.

Here are a few reasons setting goals  are necessary for growth:

It Provides Direction

Nothing is as empowering as knowing what is next on your plate. No guessing! No confusion! Just straight up to work! Exciting right?   

When you set goals, it helps you focus on what is important, eliminate possible distractions and boost productivity.

It Fosters Motivation

Knowing what to do at a time is a great source of shop motivation. Establishing a clear and concise goal will inspire you to work, push beyond your boundaries and try to move the needle each day towards achieving your objectives.

It Helps Improve Time Management

Setting goals has conditioned your brain to know what to work on at a certain time. For instance, you plan to lose weight and your daily activity step is to do twenty push-ups a day. 

Once you are awake, your brain already knows that it is time for push-ups, you do not have to wander about lost in thoughts of what to do.

This is a great strategy to manage time and feed only your focus.

 Skills Needed For Effective Goal Setting

As important as goal setting is, it is not a walk in the park. It requires critical skills needed to succeed at it.

Here are the core skills you need to be a boss at goal setting:

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking will set your path to achieving your goals. It helps visualise the big picture and create a roadmap for your future.

By understanding where you are headed and what you want to achieve, you can set your personal and professional goals that align with your overall vision.

Research

To set goals effectively, you need ample research skills to stay informed on what is obtainable. 

Research gives you insight into trends, opportunities, threats and growth opportunities to achieve your goals.

For instance, if you aim to make $1000 by month’s end, you need information on skills or jobs that pay that amount.

Resources Prioritization And Management

One of the limitations of achieving goals is resources. No matter how great your plan is and how effective your strategies are, you need resource management skills to be able to execute your goals.

For instance, if your goal is to start a new business, you need to allocate resources that will help you actualize your goals.

 Without resources, no matter how great your business plan is, actualizing your goals might be fruitless.

Flexibility

In goal setting, being flexible is is very essential. Be adaptable and flexible to adjust your plans as needed, keeping you on track for success.

Types Of Goal Setting Strategies

There are different types of goal-setting strategies you can incorporate to achieve results.

Below are a few to consider:

Short Term Goals Strategies

Short-term goals are projects that need to be completed within the shortest time. Short-term goals are either to be achieved monthly, quarterly or yearly as the case may be.

For instance, passing professional exams may be a short-term goal which needs to be achieved within three months or less.

To achieve this, you need different goal-setting strategies that are tailored towards the duration of the said goal.

Long-Term Goals Strategies

These are goals that need to be completed within the longest time. An example of a long-term goal could be attaining financial freedom or transitioning in your career.

To achieve results, you need different goal-setting strategies to bring your long-term goals to life.

Personal And Professional Goals Strategies

If your personal goal is not separated from your professional goals, you could easily be overwhelmed and burnt out.

Your personal goals need distinct strategies to achieve productivity, the same thing applies to your professional goals.

Effective Goal-setting Strategies For Productivity

Set SMART Goals

The first thing to getting things done is to ensure your goals are SMART. “SMART” is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

Let us look into SMART goals in detail.

Specific

Your goals are not considered SMART if it is not specific. Your goals do not have to be vague or ambiguous. It has to be pointed towards a particular direction and have clear objectives. 

For instance, saying you want to lose weight is vague and ambiguous You need to be specific on the amount of weight you want to lose.

Therefore, a specific goal in that direction might sound like…” I want to lose 2kg”.

Measurable

A goal is measurable if it can be calculated, evaluated and tracked. It can be measured with numbers and durations. 

For example, if you aim at losing 2kg, you can easily track or evaluate your progress and if it is achievable.

Achievable

In setting your goal, ensure that you are not delusional. Set goals that are achievable within your expected period.

For example, losing 2kg in six months is achievable but losing 2kg in two months may be considered unachievable.

In summary, your goal has to be attainable, hence, you would lose, motivation and it becomes overwhelming.

Relevant

Before you embark on the journey of goal setting, ask yourself how relevant this goal is to you. Does it contribute to your professional or personal growth? Is it a must-to-do or a nice-to-do?

This would fuel your motivation even on days you feel less motivated.

Time Bound

What is the duration of this goal? A goal without a deadline is simply a wish. Put a timeline to your goal to drive productivity.

For example, you want to read three books….by when and within what period?

Put It In Writing

One of the most powerful goal-setting strategies for productivity is to physically write down your goals.

Write down your goals in places you can easily see. This will help you to create a mental picture of what achieving them would feel like and encourage you to go after them daily.

Writing down your goals would energise you and foster creativity to achieve them.

Break Them Down Into Mini-Goals

If your goal seems too overwhelming or cumbersome, the best strategies would be to break them down into short-term and quarterly goals.

The benefit of breaking down your goals into mini-goals is that you can easily evaluate sooner if they are SMART or not.

And if they are not, you can also easily readjust to align with your objectives either as a person or business.

Reward Yourself

Another goal-setting strategy for productivity is to reward yourself every time you have accomplished something.

 Celebrate your little wins even if it is something as little as completing a chapter of a book or something as significant as walking ten thousand steps in a day.

We aim to design a system that actively rewards and celebrates small accomplishments, motivating you to achieve your goals.

Seek Help

Setting goals may be easy, but achieving them is even harder when you do it alone. Seek help to stay accountable. You can join like-minded communities, and professional bodies or tag a relative along in your goal-setting journey.

The presence of these people will create room for accountability and focus.

Conclusion

In a world where there are so many side distractions, setting goals is the only way to stay focused and achieve success. We hope you find these tips on goal-setting strategies for productivity useful to boost productivity.