Goal Setting - Part 2

Friday, June 29, 2012

Updated: 13/11/2015

Today on Let's Get Working we'll discuss how to plan for your goals in part 2 of goal setting.

Plan the steps required to reach your goal

Looking at your goal setting history is useful because it helps you see what has and hasn't worked for you in the past. Keep these things in mind and if you are setting yourself the same or a similar goal try a new approach to achieve the outcome you want.

To start with you need to prioritise your goals. List each goal and place a number next to it starting with 1. These numbers will represent which goal is currently most important to you.

Goal	Number
Find a job	1
Be financially independent	2
Get my own place	3
Eat healthy	4

Once you have a prioritised list of goals it's time to break each goal down into milestones. A milestone is a task that represents significant development towards a goal and is used to gauge how far you have progressed.

Start by listing a time frame for when you will have completed each milestone and the name of the task to be completed.

Find a Job
Time frame	Milestones
Month 1	Create a Resume and Write a Cover Letter
Month 2	Research Companies
Month 3	Cold calling & networking
Month 4	Submit resumes & cover letters to employers
Month 5	Setup interviews
Month 6	Gain employment

Once you have your milestones listed you need to break each one down into the sub tasks required to reach each milestone. Once again list the completion time and date, and the name of the task.

Time to complete	Completed by (date)	Actions
5 days	5th June	Research how to create a resume
7 days	12th June	Create your resume
2 days	14th June	Ask family/friends to proof read it, make minor changes
5 days	19th June	Research how to write a Cover Letter
7 days	26th June	Write your Cover Letter
2 days	28th June	Ask family/friends to proof read it, make minor changes

Implement the plan to reach your goal

At this point you should have the makings of an action plan in place detailing how you will reach each goal.
Putting all the information together into a plan for each goal can be a lot of work, but it's useful as it helps you track your progress and stay focused. The plan can include but is not limited to, your goal, your expected outcomes, and your Milestones and sub tasks.

Action Plan Contract for Change For [your name] Dated: 1st June 2015 End date: 31st December 2015

Goal To find and keep a satisfying job, as a retail assistant by December 2015. Outcomes I will feel better about myself ' in control of my life I will be working towards my overall goal of getting a job. I will feel a sense of achievement. Milestone 1: Create a Resume/write a Cover Letter Time to complete Completed by (date) Actions 5 days 5th June Research how to create a resume 7 days 12th June Create your resume 2 days 14th June Ask family/friends to proof read it, make minor changes 5 days 19th June Research how to write a Cover Letter 7 days 26th June Write your Cover Letter 2 days 28th June Ask family/friends to proof read it, make minor changes I, _[your name]_ take personal responsibility for creating change in my life. I will begin the action plan and see it through til the end. Signed: _________________________________Date: ____________________________________

Now that you have everything sorted it's time to work towards your goals by following the timetable and tasks that you've decided on.

Assess the progress of the plan

Once the completion date for each milestone has been reached its important to record your progress and assess how effective you have been in completing the tasks you've set for yourself. Recognise any areas that you are having trouble and re-evaluate them to see if there is a better way you could be approaching them.

If you find that you're having trouble sticking to your plan because of a lack of motivation get a friend or family member to monitor you. Someone who can support, encourage, and confront you when you slack off is what you're looking for.

Continually review your requirements

Once you reach the expected completion date for a goal, examine your situation. Have things turned out the way you thought they would or are there differences. Record what has and hasn't worked and whether or not you were successful.

Each time you complete a goals you should re-examine your other goals. Are they still important to you are do you have new priorities?

Remember there's no shame in being unsuccessful. As long as you continue to work towards your goal you're making progress. The only shame is when you give up.

Until Next Time,
Steven

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