goal setting activity
TRANSCRIPT
A Simple Goal Setting Activity
www.thrivapy.com
Copyright © 2014 by Troy P. Roddy, Ph.D.
presented by Dr. Troy P. Roddy
Fold a sheet of paper into quadrants
Label the first quadrant,
"Ideal." • Close your eyes and imagine your
work in its most ideal state. What are you doing? What does it look like?
• After a few minutes, open your eyes and write down three things you imagined when you imagined your ideal.
Label quadrant two,
"Reality."• Again, close your eyes and reflect on
your actual work. What does it look like in reality? What are you actually doing?
• Open your eyes after a few minutes and write down three items about your actual work - your reality.
In quadrant three, write, "Difference."
• Look back at your "ideal" and "reality."
• Think about the differences between the two lists.
• Write down three differences between your "ideal" and "reality."
Now, open up the page and label quadrant four, "Goals."
It should look something like this...
Moving from knowing the differences to making goals requires you to take the differences and reframe them in a way that includes the four qualities of good goals.
1. Specific2. Challenging3. Realistic4. Flexible
Specific
Specific goals are ones that can be measured and are timely. For example, get stronger is not specific because it does not have a time element attached to it nor does it speak to how to measure strength. However, to do 50 push-ups without stopping by the end of three months is specific. It can be measured (number of push-ups) and has a time element (three months).
Can the differences be measured? How?
Is there a time element connected to them?
Measuring over time allows you to track progress (or lack of progress). This is important because you should celebrate progress and address lack of progress using the feedback you get by measuring your results.
Challenging
In order for a goal to be considered challenging, it needs to require both effort and focus to complete. For example, for most of us putting our shoes on and tying them correctly no longer requires a great deal of focus or effort. However, for most of us, tying a bow tie would be quite challenging. It would necessitate a great deal of focus and effort to do until it was mastered.
Are your differences challenging? Does the act of overcoming them take effort and focus?
Look at the specifics you just finished writing. Are they challenging?
Realistic
Challenging goals require effort and focus, but if they cannot be done even with effort and focus, then they are not realistic. Realistic goals are those that can be accomplished either by "stretching" or "climbing" not by "flying."
"Stretching" refers to your ability to push through some discomfort to reach a point slightly beyond your reach today. By working each day, the destination gets a little closer until you get there.
"Climbing" refers to the need for support or help in reaching the goal. On your own, you may not be able to reach it, but with the right help, it is possible and attainable.
"Flying" refers to the impossible. No matter how hard you flap your arms or focus on taking flight, you will not fly. "Flying" goals are unrealistic.
For example...
Realistic (continued)
A light bulb needs changing. However, it is in a fixture 10 feet above your head. In order to change it, you have options. Option 1 is to get a tall ladder, climb up, and change the bulb. Option 2 is similar. You can use a small ladder, climb to the top, and stretch up to change the bulb. That is basically it. Two options. Flying up to the fixture is not an option.
For determining how realistic your goal might be, think climb or stretch, not fly.
Flexible
Flexible is the an area I believe does not get enough attention when setting goals. In order to do so it is important to differentiate between flexible and noncommittal.
Noncommittal means there is no defined purpose or direction.
Flexible means having the ability to adjust your approach while still maintaining your course of action.
In other words, being flexible in your goals is being able to adjust to the moment without abandoning the spirit of your goal.
For example...
Flexible (continued)
Assume you set a goal to read 20 pages of your novel each night. Tonight, however, a family member is ill and needs some attention. You might even need to help out around the house more than usual. This changes how much time you have top devote to reading that night. So, instead of 20 pages, you only read 10. Now, you need to adjust in some way to stay on track. Maybe, you get up in the morning and read the 10 you did not the night before. You might read 30 pages the next night.
This works the other way also. Maybe you finished your 20 pages with time to spare. Maybe you read 5 more during that time and do more than your goal.
Life will throw unexpected challenges your way. Having goals that can be adjusted when needed will help you address those challenges without giving up on the reason you set the goal.
Try this activity with your students or children. Try it yourself. Let me know how it worked or how to improve it.
There are few joys in life more satisfying than seeing a student or child truly thrive in their learning. Visit my website www.thrivapy.com for more ways to encourage and support a better educational experience.
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