Letitia Williams » Discover the Missing Key to Effective Goal Achievement

When was the last time you took your personal goals as seriously as you take your professional performance appraisals? This mindset shift could be the key to achieving your non-work-related aspirations—like losing weight, improving your health, or achieving work-life balance—rather than falling short.

Performance appraisals are effective (when applied correctly) because they provide structured feedback on your progress, highlight areas for development, and help you determine your future goals. So, why not apply a similar approach to your personal life?

The Power of Goal Monitoring

Intentions alone aren’t enough to achieve the goals you aspire to. If you truly desire change in any area of your life, your goals are worth pursuing, and you deserve to realise them. A critical component often overlooked is goal monitoring—the process of regularly assessing how your actions are contributing to or hindering your progress toward your desired results.

If you haven’t been tracking your progress, you're not alone. Many people experience what is known as the "ostrich problem"—the tendency to avoid information about goal progress. However, research shows that tracking your progress not only increases your commitment but also significantly enhances your chances of success.

Setting Goals You Can Track

Before you start measuring progress, ensure your goals are set up to be effectively tracked. Here are a few key considerations:

Integrate Your Goals into Your Life Vision: Your vision is a holistic description of the person you want to become. Aligning your goals with this vision ensures they complement each other, creating harmony across different areas of your life. For example, if you aim to achieve better work-life balance, your career choices should reflect the time you want to spend with yourself, family, and friends.

Create a Plan: As Brian Tracy famously said, “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” Start with a rough plan that outlines the steps you can take to achieve your goal. Don’t worry about having a perfect plan—it's okay if it evolves over time. Focus on defining the initial actions and identify the habits that will help you move forward.

Use the SMARTER Framework: Make sure your goals are:
- Specific: Define exactly what you want to achieve (e.g., switching careers to become an entrepreneur working as a life coach).
- Measurable: Determine how you will measure progress (e.g., completing specific action items).
- Actionable: Write your action steps using verbs (e.g., "Complete a life coaching course").
- Risky: Choose goals that are challenging enough to motivate you but not so daunting that they discourage you.
- Time-Bound: Set deadlines to create a sense of urgency.
- Exciting: Ensure the goal excites you, even if the process isn't always enjoyable.
- Relevant: Confirm the goal fits your current life situation and aligns with your overall vision.

Reward Yourself: Plan rewards for achieving milestones, no matter how small. Recognising your efforts is important in maintaining motivation, much like receiving recognition after a successful performance appraisal.

How to Track Your Progress Effectively

Now that you have a solid foundation, here’s how to easily and effectively track your progress:

Create a System: Start by asking yourself what is achievable within a year, a quarter, a month, and a week. Schedule these actions in your planner.

Define Habits to Practice: Identify the habits that will support your goals. Start small to avoid overwhelm. So if it’s strengthening your expertise in a particular area of learning, you may want to create a reading habit.

Physically Track Your Progress: Use a habit tracker, whether it's an app or a physical journal, to record your habits. This reduces self-deception, boosts commitment, and provides a clear record of your actions.

Schedule Regular Check-Ins:
- Weekly Review and Preview: Reflect on the past week's efforts, identify missed opportunities, and set intentions for the coming week.
- Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Reviews: Evaluate your progress over longer periods, assessing both your efforts (commitment to actions) and methods (trying new behaviours).

Make Your Progress Public: Sharing your progress with a friend, family member, or coach increases accountability and enhances your chances of success.

Why Not Treat Your Personal Goals Like Your Professional Ones?

Many of us feel comfortable with performance appraisals when our managers hold us accountable. So, why not apply the same discipline to your personal goals?

Consider having a coach or accountability partner who is dedicated to helping you stay on track and adapt as needed. Alternatively, enlist the support of a friend or family member. Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re consistently tracking your progress.

Final Thoughts

Tracking your goals with intention and structure is a powerful way to turn your aspirations into reality. Whether you do this independently or with the support of a coach or accountability partner, consistent progress monitoring is key to achieving the life you envision.

Reference

Harkin, B., Webb, T. L., Chang, B. P., Prestwich, A., Conner, M., Kellar, I., ... & Sheeran, P. (2016). Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment? A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 142(2), 198