Purposeful goal setting vastly improves individual and team performance, career advancement, and job satisfaction.

Results from a Dominican University study on goal achievement found …

• People who develop written goals achieve 42% more than those who think about goals.
• People who develop written goals and share them with a colleague or friend achieve 50% more.
• People who develop written goals, share them, and communicate weekly progress toward goals achieve 76% more.‍

For individuals and teams, the benefits extend beyond enhanced performance.

• Goals provide a better source of motivation than monetary benefits alone.
• Employee engagement is higher when goals are in place, reducing turnover and improving productivity.
• Good goals help employees to limit stress and maintain focus.

Very few people are successful by chance. Even those whose accidental innovations (think penicillin and Teflon) earned them acclaim were working diligently toward a goal at the time of their discoveries.

The master Pablo Picasso shared, “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

Plan for results with MASTER goals

Aim for a balance in goal setting between high achievement and achievability. Understanding the “why” and “how” of goals encourages sustained investment in the plan and spurs action.

Goals should be:

1. Thoughtful – What is the ultimate or greater goal? Why one goal versus another?
2. Achievable – Create a path to reach that goal, understanding that it may take time to attain. Break it down into challenging but achievable supporting goals.
3. Recorded – Whether part of an employee’s annual review, a team’s bonus plan, or personal goal setting, committing goals and an action plan on paper creates accountability and the motivation to see plans through.

SMART goals are great but adding “encouragement” makes them MASTER goals. Applying these guidelines helps set goals that are reasonable and attainable and focuses efforts on highly productive work.

• Measurable – Set quantifiable targets to measure achievement and impact.
• Adaptable – Be ready to change. Accept unplanned events, adjust on the fly, and move forward. If you foresee possible obstacles, consider devising a Plan B upfront.
• Specific – Make sure goals are understood, and the path to achievement is clear. Be accountable: post, publish, share. This applies to individuals and teams.
• Time-bound – Set the pace for achievement. What’s to be accomplished this this week, this month, this quarter?
• Encouraging – Keep motivation high: focus on positive action, acknowledge and share hitting milestones, encourage others when they make strides toward their goals.
• Realistic – Make sure the goals set are within reach. Consider the time, resources, and energy required to achieve each goal

How to create a plan to hit your goals

Once a goal is determined, it’s a matter of setting a path from Point A to Point B.

Several methods exist to create a fruitful plan

• Linear thinkers process information sequentially. There are several templates available to aid in outlining goals and creating a path to reach them. These templates are examples and starting points.
• Global thinkers are more comfortable processing information with the context of the bigger picture. Drawing a visual representation of a Greater Goal, Supporting Goals, and the Steps to achieve them can be more productive.

Plan development can be an individual or team effort and represents strong forward movement toward goal achievement.

How to support goal achievement

Written goals and an action plan to achieve them are the foundation to greater results, but procrastination and a lack of prioritization can defeat even the most well-thought-out plan. Once the plan is completed and launched, support goal achievement with these activities.

• Post the plan prominently to keep it top of mind. (Seeing is believing.)
• Schedule Supporting Goal steps as daily/weekly calendar items.
• Create a weekly calendar appointment to review and track progress.
• Share progress made to realize the greatest results.
• Maintain a can-do attitude; make goal achievement a priority.
• Ask for help when you need it, either from your manager, a colleague or even a friend.
• Celebrate milestones, like completing a critical step or Supporting Goal. Celebrate teammates’ successes, as well.

Act on the plan

Thoughtful goal setting establishes desired outcomes, details a path to successful goal achievement, and provides an action plan to transform aims into ends. “Action” is the operable word. To reach anticipated goals, and experience the satisfaction of that, achievement requires action.

Beyond planning, Picasso believed “action is the foundational key to all success.” Don’t wait. Begin making notes now … jot down two or three possible goals. Set a calendar appointment to begin developing and writing an annual goal-setting plan. Today is the day to chart a course for greater achievement in the coming year.