What makes goal-setting effective?
 
    
This is an often grossly misunderstood topic. Individuals set goals every day and then wonder why they don't achieve them. We've all done it. Remember the time you said you would work out and lose 10 pounds in 2 months? What happened? If you fulfilled on it, I congratulate you. If not, take a look at what might have been missing in your strategy - it might be as simple as an ineffective goal structure. For example, people often get consumed by outcome goals.

You know, the one that says " I want to lose 10 pounds in 2 months."

These are certainly valuable goals that are measurable and quantifiable.but wait, isn't there a more important issue, " How am I going to do that? What exactly do I need to do each day to achieve this?"

If you can build into your goals a specific plan of action that will lead to the desired outcome, your goal-setting will be far more effective. It is a similar distinction that was outlined in the attentional focus section above. If your goals are focused correctly, they will get you into ACTION.

You must have more than just yourself to hold you accountable. ACCOUNTABILITY is the key to sticking to your plan of action. Create a support system of people (teammates, peers, family, superiors etc.) who will hold you accountable for your actions (or lack thereof). By this I am not referring to a squad of dictators who will beat you up or yell at you if you fail. After all, if you are setting goals that are going to give you breakthroughs, these are probably lofty goals - as well they should be. And lofty goals invariably involve some failure along the way. I am talking about a group of people (including yourself) who are not afraid to tell you when you are bailing out, but who also provide real support to get you through the failures. I mean support that is constructive and purposeful.

A support system must also provide acknowledgement - not just the straight acknowledgement of what you are doing/not doing, but also the complimentary acknowledgement of your achievements, along with a rewards structure. Built into this support system must certainly be an intrinsic desire to be true to your word in the plan of action. One must hold oneself accountable as well - it is the very source of integrity. This can only lead to success.

Contact shaheen@rice.edu for details on goal-setting consultation and training.