We often get the question, "why do I actually need to set goals?", or "is it really necessary to set goals?". And from experience we can tell you: yes, goal setting is very important. Goals help us move forward. Think of it also as the oxygen of your dreams.
You probably know the drill: you can talk for hours about the plans and dreams you have for the future. After all, everyone has something they want to achieve or change. Without setting a goal, this remains a dream. And as author Tony Robbins says, "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." And to achieve goals, you must first set them. We'd like to give you 6 reasons why goal setting is important.
1. Goals bring focus
Imagine a game of soccer with no goals. Where would you run to? Then what is the goal of the whole game? Right, there is no goal. And so the players don't know what to do either and will run at random. It is then pointless and a waste of energy. You can be the best soccer player in the world, without focus your talent is worth nothing. The same is true in the workplace. Setting goals gives you focus. By focusing on the end goal, you know what you are working for (together) and you are able to actually achieve the goal. In addition, you also know very well what you should and shouldn't do to achieve your goal which makes it easier to say "no" to the things that are not important and you automatically stay away from distractions. Suppose you have an important appointment starting at 2:00 pm. You leave at 1 p.m. and it's a 50-minute drive. You know that parking at your destination is difficult and often takes at least 10 minutes. Would you stop for a sandwich on the way? No, because you know then you are not going to get there on time and thus not reach your goal. No matter who or what you meet along the way, your goal ensures that you don't get distracted and stay focused on getting to that important appointment on time.
2. Goals help avoid procrastination
Once you set a goal, you are responsible for achieving it. If you are not on track with your goal, it makes you feel bad. These feelings help you overcome procrastination and laziness. In doing so, make sure that the goals you set should be for the short term. Long-term goals actually do cause you to procrastinate because you think you have a long time to achieve the goal. Do you have long-term goals? Then break them down into several short-term goals. Tip: share your goals with your colleagues and/or your supervisor, this way they hold you accountable as well and the chances of you achieving your goal increase. In fact, people who share their goals with others have 25% more likely to achieve their goal.
E-book: Setting Goals
How can you set goals in the best way? What kinds of goals are there? And what does goal setting yield? In this e-book, we give you tips&tricks and tools.
3. Setting goals lets you know where you stand at any given moment
By setting a starting point and an end point when setting goals, you can measure your progress. This allows you to know at any time where you are in your development and what you still need to do to reach your goal. In an app like Treams , you can very easily set your goals and at any time, by sliding a progress bar and writing notes, adjust your progress. This is visible to both the employee and the manager. This allows you to make timely adjustments when you are not on track.
4. Setting goals ensures you get the best out of yourself
Setting ambitious goals helps you reach your highest potential. You have to step out of your comfort zone and, as a result, you achieve things you didn't even know you could. All of this puts you in growth mode, which ensures that you won't settle for anything less than achieving your goal. Just look at top athletes. They always set ambitious goals. For every race. Swim faster than last time, improve your own record, get a medal. They push themselves to get the best results and it works! They don't say for nothing, "Aim for the moon, even if you miss you will end up among the stars."
5. Turn high mountains into walkable hills
You probably have them: dreams that you think will never come true. When you are at the bottom of these high mountains, you will soon be discouraged from climbing the mountain. By breaking down your big goal into small achievable ambitions, you turn the high mountains into hills that are easier to face. By reducing goals, you can easily create a concrete plan of action. Tip: write these goals down. In fact, people who write down their goals are 33% more successful in achieving them than those who don't.
6. Achieving goals makes for greater success
When you have set a goal and achieved it, it feels like a victory. And that feels good! You want that more often. It's actually addictive. You want to take that extra step every time and that ultimately makes you achieve even more.