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EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING(A roadmap towards Successful Life Pattern)

With your Lord alone is (the knowledge) of the ultimate end. (Al-Quran)

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CONTENTS

I. Identification of Goals II. Types of Goals (Personality

Aspect) III. Types of Goals (Temporal Aspect) IV. Stating Goals V. Goal Realization Plan/Strategy

(Individual Perspective)VI. Goal Realization Plan/Strategy

(Institutional Perspective)

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BASIS OF GOALS

Human life is purposive phenomenon. The multiple purposes identify various goals

and objectives. A normal individual must form some aims

and pursues them for actualization. Human life is thus a conscious struggle towards multiple goals, both material as well as immaterial.

An effective goal is attainable goal and shapes successful human life.

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HUMAN DREAMS AND GOALS Naturally, everyone has some dreams about his/her

future life. Dreams are mere wishes without will and wisdom,

so that dreams are actualized through persistent struggle.

Generally, a sensible dream consists of visions, roadmaps, milestones, and blueprints of struggle.

It is noteworthy that an individual views only promising dreams towards life, life styles, life patterns, and living standards. Moreover, human dreams are evolving phenomenon, they are refined on account of knowledge, experience and reflection.

An effective goal is outcome of evolving and promising dreams.

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IDEALISTIC VS. PRAGMATIC DREAMS Human dreams towards some targets are either pragmatic

or idealistic. The pragmatic dreams are realistic, while the idealistic

dreams are unrealistic. The pursuance of pragmatic dreams limits our efforts within

sensible range, while the chasing of idealistic dreams means negativity, waste, daydreaming, and regrets in life.

An idealistic dream has two dimensions, naivety and poetry. The naïve content means dream is simply unattainable. The poetic content means dream realization demands a complex route.

It is noteworthy that the poetic aspect of idealistic dreams means presence of some innovative reality. The new hidden reality requires, for actualization, a pragmatic touch, conceptually, and execution vigor, practically.

An effective goal is must in sync with pragmatism.

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DREAMS, INSPIRATION, AND GOALS

Dreams, either pragmatic or idealistic, need some inspiration for actualization.

Inspiration means wise motivation from real life examples of successful individuals.

People inspires on account of multiple reasons, both material as well as spiritual.

The institution of prophets is divine way for best inspirations for all and sundry.

Practically, people differ in selecting inspirational personalities. An inspirational personality may be a close person or an iconic character.

An effective goal is inspirational and stems from inspirational personality.

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INSPIRATIONAL PERSONALITY, IDEALS, AND GOALS

Human beings make ideals during multiple life efforts.

The inspirational personalities are our ideals for life struggle. They inspire strength, visible and invisible, against multiple resistances, both inner and outer.

However, deliberately, the inner strength is developed through enhancing personal, social, and economic skills. The outer resistance is managed through shaping a strategic counter resistance framework.

An effective goal is thus designed deliberately and strategically.

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TAXONOMY OF GOALS (PERSONALITY ASPECT) Human life is a dynamic reality. It is evolved, steadily and

gradually. Initially, one’s life activities are limited on certain physical needs/comforts, overtime; it expands her area of effect through concerned human nature.

Life options are countless, they present themselves as realizable possibilities, so that, they make alpha and omega of human life.

The divinely ingrained concerned human nature selects and chases the available life choices permanently. Consequently, goals of varied types shape specific life patterns of individuals and determine/expand their area of effect.

An effective goal is naturally dynamic and creates dynamism in one’s life.

Generally, human goals have four categories – personal, educational, professional, and social.

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PERSONAL GOALS

Personal goals are based on one’s dreams towards life style and living standards.

Personal goals are unique and evolving. An evolved personality would have pragmatic personal goals with poetic touch.

An important personal goal is financial freedom. Financial freedom makes someone independent from all types of exploitations of interactive life.

A successful individual makes feasible financial goals and revisits them, now and then.

It is noteworthy that financial freedom provides sound bases to multiple human goals, while absence of financial freedom makes all goals simply unattainable.

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EDUCATIONAL GOALS

Instinctively, human beings are knowledge-seekers.

The formal effort towards knowledge development requires a set of educational goals. Educational goals are clear-cut however evolving.

Educational goals are shaped by parents, educators, and successful individuals.

Effective educational goals mean successful education career.

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PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Professional living is essential phase / aspect of human life.

Professional goals get strength from our approach towards life comforts.

The pleasure driven professional goals leads towards deplorable life. On the contrary, the intellect-driven professional goals mean better or esteemed life.

Effective professional goals lead towards better career.

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SOCIAL GOALS

Divinely, human beings are social creature. The interactive life has multiple dimensions such

as blood kinship, geographical neighborhood, and ideological brotherhood.

An effective interactive life demands some social goals.

A person may pursue various social works as ideals in his/her life.

The prominent social ideals are various communal works such as community hospital, blood donation network, creation of NGO and literacy program.

The poetic vision and humanistic tendency are invisible forces behind multiple social goals.

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TAXONOMY OF GOALS (TEMPORAL ASPECT)

Goals are realized within definite time framework, so that, temporal dimension is inevitable aspect of effective goals setting.

Temporally, human goals have four categories – short-term, medium-term, long-term, and eternal. Short-term goals take a year or less, medium-term goals are realized within 1 to 5 years, long-term goals take more than five years for realization, and eternal goals are permanent and continually evolving / expanding life goals.

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STATING GOALS

Goals are our visions/dreams, so that, they are expressed in positive language with cheerful tone.

Effective goals can be grouped into two categories – individual and institutional.

At individual level, an effective goal is Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Smart individuals make SMART goals.

At institutional level, an effective goal is Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound, Encouraging, Rewarding, and Team-driven (SMARTEST).

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CONTENTS OF GOALS

An effective goal has two contents, viz., welfare content and pecuniary content.

The welfare content is linked with Divine Scheme of Creation, while the material content is linked with perishing life comforts.

The qualitative superiority and quantitative inevitability of welfare content is cosmic reality.

Dominant welfare content means a humanistic struggle, while the dominant worldly content means personal struggle.

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GOALS VS. OBJECTIVES

Goals are the broad results that a person is committed to achieve, while the objectives are the steps that a person needs to arrive at his/her goals.

For goals, we use words (e.g., institution wants to capture maximum market), for objectives, we use numbers (for example, institution wants to capture 25% market).

Goals make the individual/institution more effective, while objectives make the individual/institution more efficient.

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AFFECTS OF GOALS (INDIVIDUAL ASPECT)

At individual level, goals set our personality, path, pace, performance, and prospects.

At personality level, an effective ambition towards personality profile shapes vibrant and dynamic personality.

At path level, an effective aim specifies suitable and secure course/direction for life struggle.

At pace level, an effective target makes one’s efforts swift and speedy.

At performance level, an effective intention makes one’s life efficient and productive.

At prospect level, an effective purpose earmarks proper area of effect for individuals.

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AFFECTS OF GOALS (LEADERSHIP ASPECT) At leadership level, goals improve concentration, enhance

execution strength, develop persistency towards task completion, make stable team profile, and creates cohesiveness among team members.

Concentration has been defined as "the ability to direct one's thinking in whatever direction one would intend". The most significant leadership trait is concentration.

Execution Strength is an ability to do work, properly. It is the level of execution vigor that differentiates pragmatic leadership from idealist leadership.

Persistency means to work continually and enthusiastically till logical or desired outcome is not attained. An effective leader observes the maxim, Follow One Course Unless Successful (FOCUS).

Stability means firmness during crises or flexibility during change. Cohesiveness is a measure of the attraction of the team to its

members, the sense of unity among team members, and the willingness of its members to coordinate their efforts.

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GOALS REALIZATION STRATEGY

o Generally goals are realized if an individual, 1. Starts from Possible, (Pragmatism)2. Establishes Personal Commitment with Goals,

(Effective Inspiration) 3. Rises above Fear of Failure/Feelings of Regret,

(High Morale) 4. Overcomes Procrastination, Slovenliness, etc.,

(Self Discipline) 5. Set a Deadline or Duration for Task Completion,

(Time Efficiency)6. Relates Goals With Tasks and Durations,

(Wisdom) & 7. Avoids Perfectionism/Distractions. (Leadership)

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INGREDIENTS OF GOALS (BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE)

A business is teamwork of interdependent individuals. They work together for some economic benefits. They define a few goals / objectives for business growth and development.

At institutional level, group motivation is vital ingredient for task completion.

To motivate individuals towards better performance, goals must have - Clarity, Challenge, Feedback, Task-Pattern, and Collective Ownership.

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CLARITY

Conceptual clarity on goals shapes scientific management framework at institutional level. The cornerstone of clarity is regular brainstorming sessions of all stakeholders.

Clarity of purpose gives vision to institution or individuals, directs one’s efforts, and shapes effective work profile.

It is extremely productive to align business goals with life purposes.

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CHALLENGE

A permanent presence of SMARTEST challenges makes the persons smart towards goal realization.

An effective entrepreneur designs challenging goals, now and again.

Practically, the areas of challenge are different for entrepreneur and followers. The area of challenge for follower is to observe strictly discipline or to maintain smooth working or to meet deadlines, while the strength of leader is to break comfort zones, now and then. The braking of rules or habitual work-pattern is inevitable for innovations or growth.

A repetitive challenge to comfort zones/routine work-pattern is essential for goal realization.

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FEEDBACK

Dynamism is vital for growth and development. A person or team may trap into some ineffective/static loop of work.

The only solution to ineffectiveness is objective feedback from all concerned sources. It checks the vicious trap, timely, and responds it properly.

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TASK PATTERNS

A task pattern is either simple or complex. A simple task is accomplished through direct work-patterns, while a complex task is done through some indirect work-patterns.

Institutions are designed to actualize certain goals & objectives. The process of goal actualization demands clean path, it is responsibility of entrepreneur to clean path hurdles and to set effective task patterns. Cleaning path hurdles mean swift goal realization.

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COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP

A participative goal setting procedure strengthens collective ownership of targets.

A collective ownership means unified strength during struggle. At institutional level, targets are achieved because of teamwork. A collective ownership develops team spirit among diverse team members.