Backward Goal setting

Prepared By

Manu Melwin Joy

Assistant ProfessorIlahia School of Management Studies

Kerala, India.

Phone – 9744551114Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com

1001 SkillsMMJ’s Management Skills Archive

Introduction

• In planning, most of uswould usually startbuilding our plan fromstart to finish. What doyou have to do first,second, third, and so on?What milestones do youhave to reach before youcan continue on with thenext step in the plan? Bywhat date does each stepneed to be completed?

Introduction• However, there's another,simple but lesser-usedmethod of goal settingthat can be equally aspowerful. It can show youother ways to achieve thesame result, and it canhelp you deal with thenecessary unknowns ofgoal setting that can sooften cause you to give upon your plan entirely. It iscalled Backward goalsetting.

Introduction• The idea is to start with yourultimate objective, your endgoal, and then work backwardfrom there to develop yourplan. By starting at the endand looking back, you canmentally prepare yourself forsuccess, map out the specificmilestones you need to reach,and identify where in yourplan you have to beparticularly energetic orcreative to achieve thedesired results.

Backward Goal setting Process

Backward Goal setting Process

• Step 1 - Write down your

ultimate goal.

• Step 2 - Write down the

milestone.

• Step 3 - Work backward

some more.

• Step 4 - Work back again.

Step 1 Write down your ultimate goal

• What specifically do you

want to achieve, and by

what date?

• Example: "I want to live

independently” or “I

want a girlfriend”. Then

set a goal date.

Step 2 Write down the milestone

• Ask yourself whatmilestone you need toaccomplish just beforethat, in order to achieveyour ultimate goal.

• What specifically do youhave to do, and by when,so that you're in aposition to reach yourfinal objective?

Step 2 Write down the milestone

• Example: "I need to learn

to manage my money,

show a plan for feeding

myself and show good

activities of daily living.” or

“I need to meet and

attract some eligible

women.”

Step 3 Work backward some more

• Work backward some

more.

• What do you need to

complete before that

second-to-last goal?

Step 3 Work backward some more

• Example: "“I will write out abudget and make some plansthat demonstrate so that I candemonstrate some success ina less structured setting so Iwill keep to a budget anddemonstrate someindependent living skills” orfor dating “I need to improvemy appearance and hygieneand social skills, I need tolearn how to start andappropriate conversation” or“I need to show that I can getout of the house at least oncea day for 3months”

Step 4 Work back again

• Work back again.

• What do you need to do

to make sure the

previous goal is reached?

Step 4 Work back again

• Example: “I will help outwith the chores at theassisted living and see if Ican go shopping withthem or with a familymember to help medevelop these skills” or “Iwill have attendedchurch every Sundayindependently for 1month”

Key Points

• Backward planning doesn'tseem much different fromtraditional goal-settingprocesses. You start with abasic vision, and then youask yourself what needs tobe done to achieve thatvision. You can read yourplan from the beginning tothe end, or from the endback to the beginning.

Key Points

• Backward planning,however, is more thanreversing the direction ofyour traditional plan. It'sabout adopting a differentperspective and, perhaps,identifying differentmilestones as a result. It'sa great supplement totraditional planning, and itgives you a much fullerappreciation for what itmay take to achievesuccess.

Prepared By

Manu Melwin Joy

Assistant ProfessorIlahia School of Management Studies

Kerala, India.

Phone – 9744551114Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com

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