Goal setting is a hugely powerful technique that can yield strong returns in all areas of your life. It’s like drawing a map from where you are to where you’d like to be, and like a map, it helps to guide you there.
At its simplest level, the process of setting goals allows you to choose where you want to go in life or sport or work. By knowing what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on and improve, and also helps to identify distractions. Goal setting gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. A good practice is to review your goals weekly so you can acknowledge the successful progress and re-make goals if they are not working. Basically, it helps you see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind.
By setting goals you can:
• Achieve more
• Improve performance
• Improve the quality of your training
• Increase your motivation to achieve
• Increase your pride and satisfaction in your performance
• Improve your self-confidence
Research (Damon Burton, 1983) has shown that athletes who use goal setting effectively:
• Suffer less from stress and anxiety
• Concentrate better
• Show more self-confidence
• Perform better
• Are happier with their performances
By setting goals, and measuring their achievement, you are able to see what you have done and what you are capable of. Self-confidence is funny because it’s really based on evidence—so use goals to get some of that evidence! The process of achieving goals and seeing their achievement gives you the confidence and self-belief that you need that you will be able to achieve higher and more difficult goals.
1. Specific — Leave no room for interpretation. Vague goals are like bad directions--frustrating and time consuming. Say exactly what your goal is and write it down. There is power in commitment, so commit and let it be known.
2. Measurable — Perhaps the most important part! How do you measure becoming "a better athlete?" Clearly define what that means so that you know when you've accomplished your goal.
3. Action-Based — You want to be a better competitor, but what specific skill do you need to improve to achieve that? You want to direct your actions and focus with your goal, not make a wish.
4. Realistic — You want them to be challenging but reachable in order to experience success so you can then build upon the goals you achieve and move on to the next goal.
5. Time-Sensitive — Don't leave it open to chance, say "by when" to motivate yourself to do what you need to do to accomplish the goal.
6. Support — Whose help do you need to achieve your goal? Make sure to enlist them in your goal and in the process of getting there.
Want more tips? Mental Imagery
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