Getting goal Here’s how achievers do it
ccording to research from the University of Scranton, a whopping 92 percent of people who set New Year’s goals never achieve them. You can count me in that group. Failing to meet goals is pretty frustrating and can set you back, especially at work. That leaves 8 percent of us in an elite category of goal achievers. What do they do differently that 92 percent of us are missing out on?
1. They begin with the end in mind
When setting goals, you have to know where you’re headed. When writing down your goals, make sure that you understand the path to your final destination. After all, a goal without a clear road map is just a pipe dream. Once you have your goal on paper, write out what you’ll need to get there. These are your sub-goals and the resources you will need to support you along the way.
2. They build a support system around them
High performers and productive people don’t do it alone. They understand that they can achieve more and do it quicker with the help of a mentor, coach or adviser (or advisory team).
If you wanted to get better at tennis, you probably would hire an instructor to help you improve your serve or backhand volley. Setting and meeting larger goals is no different. Look for allies and build a network of experts who care about your success and keep you heading toward your goals. Meet with them regularly, seek their wisdom, ask for advice and listen carefully.
3. They set specific and challenging goals
Researchers Edwin Locke and Gary
Latham found that when people set specific and challenging goals it led to higher performance 90 percent of the time.
For example, if your goal is to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year, it may be challenging, but it’s too vague. Try this instead: “During the month of July, I will lose five pounds by reducing sugar, breads and soda. I will also walk briskly for 20 minutes daily.”
When you have that much clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.
4. They recognize when they’re procrastinating
We’ve all suffered from procrastination in one form or another. It’s important to figure out the reasons for your procrastination. Some people find a particular task or job aimed toward attaining a goal unpleasant, and that becomes the source of their avoidance. Examine what is truly causing you to put off doing something,.
Here are a few instant strategies to help you out:
Have clearly prioritized to-do lists, schedules, time frames for completing a task and deadlines for goals to help counter procrastination.
Work back from your deadlines to know how long you need and when to get started, so you’re won’t finish late.
5. They practice the 52 and 17 Rule
When working toward your daily goal, try 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of rest. Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, co-authors of “Peak Performance,” found that adopting an interval-based approach to productivity isn’t just for athletes.
One study found that its most productive employees preferred a work routine where they spent, on average, 52 minutes engrossed in their work, took a 17-minute break and then returned to their work. Retaining the highest level of productivity for achieving your goals in a day is not working longer, it’s working smarter with frequent breaks.
6. They listen to music for focus
Music has been found to be a great way to maintain focus and stay productive for goal attainment. The key is to experiment first and find suitable music that helps you focus.
Background noise also has been shown to sharpen your focus. Try Coffitivity, a website and app that emulates the ambient sounds of a cafe to boost your creativity and help you work better to get stuff done.
7. They don’t multitask
There’s a myth that to be successful means to act with warp-speed urgency and do as many things as possible at the same time. Actually, the most successful people are patient and avoid juggling many things.
Research shows that multitasking is a myth and can be damaging to your brain. You end up splitting your focus over many tasks, losing focus, lowering the quality of your work and taking longer to hit your goals.
The 8 percent of people who nail down their goals are smart enough to work on several smaller chunks to complete a big goal. But they do it by knocking one down, then moving on to the next one.
Marcel Schwantes is an entrepreneur, executive coach and adviser.