A Tool to Help You Reach Your Goals in 4 Steps
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A Tool to Help You Reach Your Goals in 4 Steps Creating goals that you will actually accomplish isn’t just a matter of defining what needs doing—you also have to spell out the specifics of getting it done. Research shows that you can significantly improve your odds by using what motivational scientists call if-then planning to express your intentions. We’re neurologically wired to make if-then connections, so they’re powerful triggers for action. This tool will help you take advantage of how the brain works. To begin, break down your goals into concrete sub-goals and detailed actions for reaching them. 1. Establish your goal. 2. Break down into concrete sub-goals. 3. Identify detailed actions — and the ‘who, when and where’ — for achieving each sub-goal. 4. Create if-then plans that trigger actions. Structure your plans as if-then statements ("If x, then y") using your actions and who, when, where’s from Step 3. Example: Goal 1 : Improve team communication. Sub goal 1 : Identify where communication is breaking down. Sub goal 2 : Create new opportunities for communication between managers and direct reports. Sub goal 3 : Reduce information overload among staff members. Action on sub goal 1 : Gather feedback on problem areas from employees. Who-when-where for sub goal 1 : Director of HR, at the beginning of the month.
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Creating goals that you will actually accomplish isn’t just a matter of defining what needs doing—you also have to spell out the specifics of getting it done.
Transcript of A Tool to Help You Reach Your Goals in 4 Steps
A Tool to Help You Reach Your Goals in 4 Steps
Creating goals that you will actually accomplish isn’t just a matter of defining what needs doing—you also have to spell out the specifics of getting it done. Research shows that you can significantly improve your odds by using what motivational scientists call if-then planning to express your intentions. We’re neurologically wired to make if-then connections, so they’re powerful triggers for action.
This tool will help you take advantage of how the brain works. To begin, break down your goals into concrete sub-goals and detailed actions for reaching them.
1. Establish your goal.2. Break down into concrete sub-goals.3. Identify detailed actions — and the ‘who, when and where’ — for achieving each sub-goal.4. Create if-then plans that trigger actions.
Structure your plans as if-then statements ("If x, then y") using your actions and who, when, where’s from Step 3.
Example:
Goal 1 : Improve team communication.
Sub goal 1 : Identify where communication is breaking down.
Sub goal 2 : Create new opportunities for communication between managers and direct reports.
Sub goal 3 : Reduce information overload among staff members.
Action on sub goal 1 : Gather feedback on problem areas from employees.
Who-when-where for sub goal 1 : Director of HR, at the beginning of the month.
Action on sub goal 2 : Generate quick weekly status report.
Who-when-where for sub goal 2 : All employees, every Friday to be turned in by noon.
Action on sub goal 3 : Prohibit knee-jerk forwarding of e-mails.
Who-when-where for sub goal 3 : All employees, whenever e-mails are forwarded.
If-then plan for sub goal 1:
If it's the first of the month, then I (the director of HR) will send out forms soliciting suggestions on how to improve communication.
If-then plan for sub goal 2:
If it's Friday morning, then I (all employees) will create a summary of progress on current projects and turn it into my supervisor by noon.
If-then plan for sub goal 3:
When I (all employees) forward any e-mail, I will include a brief note at the top explaining what it is and why I'm sharing it.
