How to set a meaningful short-term goal.

You may have done some research about coaching before your first session. Or maybe you have no idea what to expect. So, I will let you know now, that at some point, it is going to get down to a goal. Either I am going to have to drag it out of you, or you are going to offer one up before I even ask!

If you wanted to be prepared with some goal ideas before participating in a session, or even if you just wanted to have a go at setting a goal to try out at home or at work today…how should you go about it?

I am going to give you some simple tips to help you set an achievable and inspiring goal. One that is tailored to you, not just a good one you read somewhere on Instagram! A short-term goal is usually a steppingstone to a bigger target, so let’s just try a small goal right now.

There are many ways to set a goal, people love a bit of SMART goal setting, or some EXACT modelling, but without needing to get into the scientific bits, lets make an intuitive goal setting thought process.

Pick a focus, positively frame it, make it just challenging enough, and decide how you are going to measure the success of the goal, all within a set time frame.

Ok! Ok! So, I have gone a little ‘coachy’ on you, but I think this is a simply laid out way to structure a goal.

1. What is your focus? Does anything stand out to you? Is there an area of life where you feel dissatisfied? An area that you think you could, or would like to be performing better? Is it glaringly obvious? If it isn’t, then start at the top and narrow things down. For example…parenting, career, health and exercise, finances. Where are you doing great, where do you feel you could be doing better. Take those thoughts and concepts and start narrowing them down, until there becomes a point of focus. This focus is the start of the goal, taking any dissatisfaction, and working out how to improve it. Think of the small steps you could take to find more satisfaction.

2. Now whatever that focus is, throw a positive spin on it. I mean frame it in a way that makes it exciting and inspiring for yourself. Give it a positive energy, and momentum. To put fresh bedding on every Monday, to energise myself with a morning run every Saturday, to post an original and researched blog once a month. I’m already feeling motivated.

3. Now rein it in a little, don’t go in all guns blazing, realistically, given your current situation, and time constraints or commitments, I want you to be able to achieve this goal, and feel positive in doing so. If it means scaling back, or if it means stretching yourself a little bit more than you would normally, make it just challenging enough.

4. Make sure there is a way to measure your success, because that is where the continued motivation and purpose come from. It may be as simple as ticking the days off on the calendar, it may be tangible, it may be praise from others, but know how you will measure your success.

5. Finally, set a time frame, use everything I have told you above, the time frame is itself a positively framed goal, so keep it measurable, and just a little challenging.

Over to you! Have a go at setting a goal for yourself. Take a look at my previous article on waking up early HERE for some inspiration. Let me know how you get on.