Written by: Léa Agbo, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Objectives! Goals! We've all got our diaries full of them.
But do you know how to objectively distinguish and plan them? And do you really know your objectives?
This is what leads me to pose things through several questions.
First question: What is an objective?
An objective is basically a wish, a vision, and an aspiration. When it is achieved, we feel better, fulfilled, and excited for the growth and advancement it has brought us.. An objective must be commensurate with us, i.e., ambitious and achievable, and correspond to our values.
Positive psychology defines it in 2 ways:
Performance objectives
These are the ones we set ourselves in order to acquire competence in a new area. This type of lens has the advantage of being a source of energy. However, they can be a hindrance when the task seems too complex and the objective is too high.
Learning objectives
They are those that allow us to acquire knowledge in an activity in order to perfect our skills in such an area. They turn out to be an excellent alternative to increase our performance. They encourage us to cultivate a high level of determination and are also linked to other positive aspects such as the perception of the goal as a constructive challenge to be met, and the improvement of memory, knowledge, and well-being.
Second question: setting objectives and what is it actually for?
The objectives serve to:
…set purpose – what makes us feel in control of our lives
… build confidence and self-esteem – we feel more effective and accompanied by a positively reinforced self-image
… structure and give meaning to our life – we are moving towards choices, a path that pleases us, that makes us vibrate
… get organised and prioritise our actions – which brings fluidity and serenity
… overcome tougher times – all the clarity engendered by well-thought-out objectives helps us put things into perspective
… interact with the outside world – for dynamic learning and mindset, it is about getting informed and sharing.
In any case, I will tell you that there is no mystery: setting goals is still the best way to achieve them.
Third question: Are you SMART?
Appreciating your own evolution and being able to say that you have progressed requires being able to self-assess. The SMART method allows it. Here's how;
S for Specific
It is a question of being as precise as possible! Do you want to train in a new field, deepen your knowledge, and discover a new activity? Perfect! Therefore, it is strongly advised that your objective be as detailed as possible: how many times a week do you want to devote yourself to it to achieve it? Do you have to travel, buy equipment, to find media/information on the net? What exactly do you need?
The S also stands for Simple: nothing complex should interfere with the (clear) way of proceeding.
M for Measurable
You must be able to check whether the result is achieved. For this, it is a question of setting measurable objectives. You can, for example, decide that in 2 weeks you will have finished your training, reached your 1st objective or even that in a month you will have finalised a specific part of your new project.
The whole point is that your progression has to be quantifiable and quantified.
A for Accessible
Do your goals want to be cheeky? That's great! As long as accessibility is considered, that is fine. This is, in fact, one of the sines qua non-conditions for the objectives set to have a positive impact on the changes you now wish to validate. Why? Because everyone's starting point is different, and when the goal is too high, we quickly lose speed. Proceeding in stages will help you maintain a high level of determination.
Remember that today's small battles make tomorrow's big victories!
R for Realistic
This condition has its subtlety. Being able to evolve step by step teaches us to take the time, which really commits us to become (even more) persevering. Here, the R of Realist stands for pragmatic, constructive, and concrete. The question to ask is "what resources do I currently have?". This concept is very important to move us forward and not stagnate. It is essential to plan the resources that we have at the moment and then adjust and increase them tenfold in the objectified near future.
T for Time
The time aspect is essential for ANY objective you have. Without time limits, we tend not to take action, to let things drag on. And in the end, to never anticipate or move forward. This is why measuring and evaluating the result of our objectives is done on a specific date. This is also how we empower ourselves: by structuring our own organisation. Thus, when the one put in place has been ineffective, it is up to us to redefine and redirect it towards a much more insightful and structured strategy.
Conclusion: the overall idea here is to segment the main objectives. Why? To easily assimilate and integrate them. Knowing how to analyse and measure the orientation of the objectives that we set for ourselves allows us to discover what really motivates us and what factually allows us to move forward.
So, from today how are you going to organise yourself, and what objectives are you going to set?
Léa Agbo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Léa is an entrepreneur and infopreneur, a certified coach in positive psychology, and a specialist in cross-cultural business. With over 10 years of experience in personal development, her focus is for you to become a better version of yourself.
A wide range of clients, including entrepreneurs, require her services to smoothly optimize their lives and/or business projects, have more confidence and energy to pursue their goals, and build real, constructive, and consistent self-esteem.
She specifically coaches entrepreneurs on the cross-cultural aspects of their businesses and is the author of the ‘Globalisation Programme.’
Léa holds a master’s degree in Strategic Business Management and Entrepreneurship. She is also a Certified Operational Manager. Léa is the Founder of AGBO Business Consulting, a company aiming to challenge you to the next level.
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