By AMA Staff
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have the ability to accomplish a lot? They know where they are headed and exude an enviable confidence. Effective goal setting is one of their keys to success. You may be working very hard at what you do, but without setting goals you'll find that your hard work doesn't yield meaningful results.
People who achieve their goals take an active role in achieving them. They write them down, and then plan for their achievement. To get started, take the following self-assessment.
SELF-AUDIT FOR GOAL SETTING
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Question
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Nearly Always
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Sometimes
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Rarely
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1. When I set a goal, I write it down.
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| 2. I describe my goal in specific, measurable terms. |
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| 3. I often visualize my goals. |
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| 4. My goals are achievable. |
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| 5. I set realistic deadlines for completing my goals. |
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| 6. I break a large goal into manageable units. |
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| 7. I look for the potential problems that may keep me from reaching my goals. |
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| 8. I take action to remove or minimize those potential problems. |
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| 9. I review progress toward my goals on a regular basis. |
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| 10. I know the personal rewards of reaching my goals. |
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Count the number of times you responded "Nearly Always" and multiply that number by 3. Multiply the number of times you responded "Sometimes" by 2, and the number of times you responded "Rarely" by 1. Then add the resulting three numbers for a total score.
Nearly Always ______ (number of responses) x 3 = _______
Sometimes ______ (number of responses) x 2 = _______
Rarely ______ (number of responses) x 1 = _______
GRAND TOTAL = _______
Analyze Your Score
24–30
Excellent job of setting effective goals. If you find that you do an excellent job of setting goals, but you feel you could be more successful in reaching them, then Chapter 2 may be especially meaningful for you.
18–23
You are on your way to achieving effective goal setting. Take another look at the statements where your responses were less than "Nearly Always." These are the areas for additional concentration.
Below 18
There are several areas in which you can improve your goal setting. In setting the goal of reading and using this book, you are becoming a more effective goal setter.
Adapted from Goal Setting: How to Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals, by Susan B. Wilson and Michael S. Dobson (AMACOM, 2008).
Learn more about the book.
About The Author(s)
American Management Association is a world leader in professional development, advancing the skills of individuals to drive business success. AMA’s approach to improving performance combines experiential learning—“learning through doing”—with opportunities for ongoing professional growth at every step of one’s career journey. AMA supports the goals of individuals and organizations through a complete range of products and services, including seminars, Webcasts and podcasts, conferences, corporate and government solutions, business books and research.