Goal setting is a crucial aspect of personal and professional development. However, many people fail to set effective goals due to common misconceptions and myths surrounding the topic. As a result, only 6% of those who set goals achieve them in life, while 80% of people do not set goals at all. In this article, we will explore 14 common misconceptions about goal setting that everyone should know to avoid making mistakes and achieve their goals.
#1: "I Know My Goals…No Need for Goal-Setting"
Many people think that they know their goals without realizing the significance of having a practical, scalable, and attainable written goal. Dreams and aspirations are abstracts in the human mind, while goals are practical objectives that one aims to achieve in life or a career. Even if you have goals in mind, it is essential to write them down and follow the STAMP (specific, transformative, applicable/actionable, measurable, and purpose-driven) framework to ensure that they are well-defined.
#2: "It is not necessary to Write Down the Goals"
According to Dr. Gail Matthews, people are 42% more likely to achieve physically recorded (written) goals. It is easy to write down goals using digital planners with an intuitive interface. Online planners can be accessed on Android tablets, iPads, and other devices. Choose a preferred online planner from a pool of free and premium ones.
#3: "It is Wrong to Share Goals"
There is no point in keeping goals a secret unless they are personal. The silo work culture is outdated, and team effort and inter-departmental transparency take center stage today, breaking the age-old workplace practices.
#4: "Start Goals on the New Year"
Goals are much more than a New Year's resolution. You do not have to wait until the end of the year to start working on a new goal. If you have an idea, start as early as possible to achieve more. Time is a pivotal factor, and unnecessary delays cost you lucrative opportunities.
#5: "Those Who Set More Goals Achieve More"
Working on multiple goals at a time can be challenging as it diverts attention into various arenas. Those who work on multiple goals schedule separate time slots for each. Prioritize goals based on their value, success, achievement, and growth opportunities.
#6: "Brainstorm Ideas Before Goal Setting"
Goal-setting is not about group discussions or team planning. It begins with individual values, outlook, and planning. You can always set goals based on your knowledge, aspirations, and thinking.
#7: "Follow the SMART Goal Format"
While SMART goal-setting may be ideal for beginners, most enterprise-level goals are set on more complex frameworks such as OKR (Objectives and Key Results).
#8: "Setting Hard Goals can be Distressful"
The fear of failure often poses a hindrance to taking up onerous goals. But to an achiever, failure is only another learning experience. Setting the bar high provides the opportunity to take up challenges and contributes to your learning graph, laying the foundation for success.
#9: "Future is Unpredictable, So Long-Term Goals Don’t Work"
Long-term goals are not always hard to attain. You may need to set plans in various phases to succeed with these goals. Break a long-duration goal into different segments and allocate tasks for each to make all of it happen.
#10: "I Have Set My Goals…I Will Surely Achieve Success"
Having written goals does not guarantee success. You must also work hard in line with a measurable plan of action to accomplish those goals. Goal-setting is the initial step to achieving something in life. It is not an achievement in itself.
#11: "I Have a Current Goal, No Need to Set a New One"
There is no rule on how many goals you can set. It is up to you to set as many goals as you want to achieve in your personal life, career, or anything else. When a new goal hits, it is worth writing it down. A digital planner is a reliable platform to draft, edit, or delete to-dos, goals, plans, etc.
#12: "Goals Can’t Be Changed"
As you proceed with your efforts on a written goal, new challenges or circumstances make it inevitable to achieve the goals. It all depends on your viewpoint. Be flexible to modify your goals (partly/entirely) based on the current situation so that you can attain them in the future.
#13: "Fixed Deadlines are a Must for Goal-Setting"
Goals are not always time-bound. A deadline allows you to stay focused on the time while in action. However, if you fail to meet a deadline, try to reprogram a new one. Success in goal-setting lies in flexibility.
#14: "Not Attaining a Goal Means Failure"
Missing a goal is not synonymous with failure. It helps with the learning process of how to set a measurable and achievable goal in the future.
In conclusion, myths and misconceptions in goal-setting only obstruct your possibilities to explore and achieve in life. Writing down your goals, setting tasks, time slots, and notes serve as a reference to streamline your efforts towards a better future. While SMART goal-setting may be ideal for beginners, it is essential to choose a goal-setting framework that works best for you. Be flexible and ready to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges that may arise as you work towards achieving your goals. With the right mindset and approach, you can accomplish any goal you set your mind to.