SMART Goals Online
Setting Reasonable Goals: Short-term, Long-term, and S.M.A.R.T.
The Goal-Setting Process
When you identify something specific you want, you set a goal. Actually getting what you want demands hard work and the ability to set and follow a plan. Think of a goal setting plan like a map. With this map, you will be able to see where you want to go, decide on the route that will take you there, and see where you are on your journey at any given time.
The Goal-Setting Process: Types of Goals
Some goals have a large scope. Getting your degree will take some time, for example. Other goals have an open-ended time frame. For instance, if your goal is to become a better musician, you may work at it over a lifetime. Other goals have a shorter time frame, a more definite end, and often fewer paths to get to the end. The types of goals you may set will probably fall into one of the following categories:
Individual Goals: goals that are set by you, and for which you alone develop and implement a strategy. They can be goals that you have for your own development and achievement. What makes them individual goals is that you alone are responsible for achieving them.
Collective Goals: goals that are set, collectively, by members of a group. Necessarily, each member of the group has a role to play in achieving the goal. In addition, all members will gain something in common by the achievement of the goal. Collective goals can be initiated by an individual, but if they are intended to benefit a group, they should be formulated and agreed upon by the group.
Short-term Goals: these goals are usually less complex and easier than long-term goals. We build momentum with each goal we complete, so setting short-term goals helps ensure that we’ll have frequent victories.
Long-term Goals: goals that are one year or longer and keep us headed in the right direction and can provide a sense of greater purpose. These goals