What A MARS Bar Taught Me About Goal Setting
My brother is crazy about MARS bars – actually one of the things that I find most annoying about him is that he eats 1 or 2 a day and remains as thin as a greyhound, I’ll probably put on 10 pounds just writing about a MARS bar! But I digress...
You have probably guessed by now that I am a big fan of setting goals and writing them down. As a speaker, trainer and coach I spend a great deal of time talking to people about the importance of goal setting and have often used the SMART mnemonic to remind myself and others of the qualities of effective goals:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Recorded
T = Timebound
At a recent leadership development workshop I discussed with the delegates the how to’s of holding a goal setting meeting with a team member. We had gone through all the SMART qualities and then I said, ‘Don’t forget the motivational aspects of goal setting.’ This lead to a discussion about what makes a goal motivational, particularly in a work setting where goals are often driven by organisational needs rather than individual needs.
Motivation is key to goal accomplishment. Your motivation is the answer to why. Why do you want to achieve this goal? As I explained to the delegates, it’s the answer to WIIFM – What’s In It For Me’?
Remember W I I F M? It’s the smallest radio station in the world but the one with the most powerful signal.
How do you and your team members benefit by achieving work goals? What’s in it for you and them? Why should they invest time, energy and effort into accomplishing organisational goals? (By the way, if you don’t know much about motivating your people, get on a course ASAP and find out – don’t fall into the trap of thinking that money is the key, it’s not!)
Our motivation drives us to take action. Action is another key to goal achievement. Having goals, even when written down, is not enough. You must take action – big and small actions – if you are to achieve success.
Your goals also have to be relevant for who you are. What is the relevance of your goals to you? What is the relevance of work goals to your team members? When you understand the relevance of your goals you are able to make far better choices and decisions. You will choose and decide on those things that drive your goals forward. You will also more easily identify opportunities for driving your goals forward when you’re clear about their relevance to you.
So there you have it Motivation, Action and Relevance = Success. Or MARS for short. Now you also know what a MARS bar can teach you about goal setting.
Pick up a copy of my workbook Greatest Year, New Pathways and learn how to develop inspiring life and career goals and action plans for the twelve months ahead and every year of your life thereafter.
My brother is crazy about MARS bars – actually one of the things that I find most annoying about him is that he eats 1 or 2 a day and remains as thin as a greyhound, I’ll probably put on 10 pounds just writing about a MARS bar! But I digress...
You have probably guessed by now that I am a big fan of setting goals and writing them down. As a speaker, trainer and coach I spend a great deal of time talking to people about the importance of goal setting and have often used the SMART mnemonic to remind myself and others of the qualities of effective goals:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Recorded
T = Timebound
At a recent leadership development workshop I discussed with the delegates the how to’s of holding a goal setting meeting with a team member. We had gone through all the SMART qualities and then I said, ‘Don’t forget the motivational aspects of goal setting.’ This lead to a discussion about what makes a goal motivational, particularly in a work setting where goals are often driven by organisational needs rather than individual needs.
Motivation is key to goal accomplishment. Your motivation is the answer to why. Why do you want to achieve this goal? As I explained to the delegates, it’s the answer to WIIFM – What’s In It For Me’?
Remember W I I F M? It’s the smallest radio station in the world but the one with the most powerful signal.
How do you and your team members benefit by achieving work goals? What’s in it for you and them? Why should they invest time, energy and effort into accomplishing organisational goals? (By the way, if you don’t know much about motivating your people, get on a course ASAP and find out – don’t fall into the trap of thinking that money is the key, it’s not!)
Our motivation drives us to take action. Action is another key to goal achievement. Having goals, even when written down, is not enough. You must take action – big and small actions – if you are to achieve success.
Your goals also have to be relevant for who you are. What is the relevance of your goals to you? What is the relevance of work goals to your team members? When you understand the relevance of your goals you are able to make far better choices and decisions. You will choose and decide on those things that drive your goals forward. You will also more easily identify opportunities for driving your goals forward when you’re clear about their relevance to you.
So there you have it Motivation, Action and Relevance = Success. Or MARS for short. Now you also know what a MARS bar can teach you about goal setting.
Pick up a copy of my workbook Greatest Year, New Pathways and learn how to develop inspiring life and career goals and action plans for the twelve months ahead and every year of your life thereafter.
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