It is the last quarter of the year and by now many people have long forgotten the resolutions and goals that they set out at the start of the year. Life has perhaps taken a different path and that’s completely understandable. If life followed a linear 10-step process then setting goals and sticking to them would be the easiest thing to do. But we know that life is not linear; there are so many twists and turns that we can’t always plan for, as much as we try.
“The problem with goals and resolutions, especially the ones we set in January, is that we set them when we’re home, maybe still on holiday, when we feel calm and relaxed,” says Selina Fisher, founder and CEO of Selina NewmanCoaching.
“In these moments, we often feel like we can do anything, and based on this we list all the changes we’re going to make in the new year, so that we can feel more of what we feel in that particular moment.
“When this happens, we often don’t factor in the reality of day-to-day life – the obstacles we might face that will knock us off our path for a while. As a result, we tend to fall off the goals and resolutions wagon not too long after we set them,” Fisher notes.
Beating ourselves up about this though isn’t the answer, a different approach is to think differently about the goals we set. Below are some tips that Fisher recommends to her coaching clients and some advice that we can all use as we think about our plans and set goals for the future.
Rethink how you view goals
Short- and long-term goals form an important part of reaching your overall objectives in your career or life. Fisher recommends that you think of goals as a navigation system.
“You wouldn’t get into your car without a destination in mind. Ideally, you will also have a destination in mind when it comes to your career or other aspects of your life,” says Fisher. “This destination can be a dream job, a degree you wish to get or perhaps buying a home in your ideal community. Whatever it is, it’s your end goal, and the smaller goals you set should be looked at as stepping stones towards your big one.”
Set clear guidelines for yourself
When you set goals for the year or the quarter, there are a few guidelines you could consider.
Fisher says: “There are a number of things I ask myself as I set goals. These questions guide me to ensure that I am setting the right goals that are attainable no matter what life may throw at me along the way.”
Questions to ask include:
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Is it my goal? Is this something I want to achieve and does it align to the life and career I am creating?
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Does it inspire me? How will my life be better once I have achieved my goal?
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Is it clear? Can I clearly document how I am going to get to my goal and what the timeframe will be?
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What are the actions required to get me to my goal? This step is often missed when we set goals. We often set the goal and hope it will fit into our lives.
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Who do I need to become to achieve this goal? Do I need to step up in other areas in order to achieve it?
Consider using a coach
Career coaching can do wonders in ensuring that you set attainable goals and that you are able to take the steps to achieve those goals.
“In my first coaching session with clients, we ask a few important questions when setting goals. And we come back to these in later sessions to make sure that the goals set out at the start of the coaching journey still align with the client’s overall life and career objectives. Coaching keeps people accountable and gives people the tools they need to move forward with their goals,” says Fisher.
We are not meant to do it alone. Athletes don’t get to the Olympics on their own and sporting teams employ the best coaches to get them into the finals at big tournaments. You can achieve great things by ensuring you have the right support on your journey.
“With the right goals, resources and support, we can achieve our biggest goals,” Fisher concludes.
