SETTING SMART GOALS
One THING you are good at but do not necessarily know, is setting
goals. As an athlete you do this all the time with your sports
programme. You have probably heard of “SMART goals”. But do you always
apply the rule? The simple fact is that for any goal to be achieved it
must be designed to be SMART, whether in sport or in life in general.
There are many variations on what SMART stands for, but the essence is
this:
Set SPECIFIC Goals
Your goals must be clear and WELL defined. You must understand what
you wish to achieve. Vague or generalised goals are not achievable
because they don’t provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need
goals to show you the way.
Set Measurable Goals
Include precise amounts, dates, etc. in your goals so you can MEASURE
your degree of success. Without a way to measure your success you miss
out on the celebration that comes with knowing you actually achieved
something.
Set Attainable Goals
Make sure that it’s possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set
a goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demoralise
yourself and erode your confidence. However, resist the urge to set
goals that are too easy. By setting realistic yet challenging goals
you hit the balance you need. These are the types of goals that
require you to “raise the bar” and they bring the greatest PERSONAL
satisfaction.
Set Relevant Goals
Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your LIFE and
career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you’ll develop the
focus you need to get ahead and do what you want.
Set Time
Your goals must have a deadline. This again, is so that you know when
to celebrate your success. When you are working on a deadline, your
sense of urgency increases and achievement will come that MUCH
quicker.
FACT sheet #1
Targeting – visualising the big picture
FACT sheet #2
Scheduling – putting things in order
Fact sheet #3
Prioritisation – getting the little things done