Strategies for goal setting

There are a number of strategies you can adopt to ensure that your goals are effective. ‘SMART’ is an anagram for a useful framework for setting goals. The letters stand for:

S specific

M measurable

A achievable

R resourced

T time-bound

Specific

The more specific and concrete the goal, the more likely it will be achieved. Use action verbs in your goal statements and define them precisely. So, instead of telling yourself: ‘I’ll do some statistics tonight’, try, ‘I’ll complete three problems on page 50 of my statistics book tonight between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m’. It is easy to put off something that is vague.

Measurable

You need to keep track of your progress by monitoring and evaluating so that you will know whether you are achieving your goals or not. A measurable objective sounds something like this: ‘I want my grade in the end-of-semester English assignment to be above the average of my last two English assignments by at least 10 marks’. Whereas a non-measurable assignment sounds like this: ‘I want to do well in English’.

Achievable

It is important that your goals are achievable. Therefore they should be realistic and manageable. .In time you will come to know the pace that best suits the way that you work. If you set unachievable goals you risk a drop in your motivation and you set yourself up for failure. While goals should not be too difficult, neither should they be too easy because you will not value the effort is there's no challenge.  

Resourced

In order to achieve your goals you need the correct resources. There is not much point in going to study without the study materials needed. Therefore, you must include resource-planning in your action plan.

Time-bound

You will need to set realistic time frames for your work. It is often best to work back from a deadline when you are planning. The next unit, Organising and managing your time will look at scheduling and time management in more detail.

Finally, write down your goals: this adds gravity to them and means that you will be less likely to forget them.

In terms of your own course of study can you write three SMART objectives?