Goals - If You Don?t Know What You Want, Then How Are You Going to Get It?

Recently, I spoke with a client who wanted me to do a workshop at an upcoming conference. I offer a number of different talks, so I asked her what the focus of the meeting was in order to be able to suggest a relevant topic. She said that although the committee members had already picked several programs, they had not yet identified a focus for the conference. My first thought in response to this was, "If you don't know what you want, then how are you going to get it?" However, I am savvy enough not to insult people, so we spoke a little longer and we came up with a program that she wanted me to present.

It never ceases to amaze me that people do not identify outcomes they wish to achieve. While the above example is related to a conference, it is by no means limited to that area. Many people engage in activities in their careers and businesses, but they haven't defined what they want to attain. They are completing tasks, but they aren't focused on accomplishing clear-cut results.

When I was a human resources executive, I often worked with people to determine the appropriate jobs that were needed in their groups. Many department heads would complete job descriptions for key jobs, which described all of the tasks that the employees would be required to do. It took a great deal of effort for me to get these individuals to realize that employees in key positions are not paid to perform tasks, they are paid to produce results. Through much coaching on my part, we were able to identify the outcomes that the individuals were expected to achieve in the various positions.

Why is it so critical to determine outcomes for a job, a meeting, a department, or any other situation? Because if you don't know what your outcome is, the odds are that you will spend a lot of unnecessary time and money trying to reach a fuzzy target. And there is a very strong chance that the target will not even be reached. Outcomes let you know where you are going. They give you important information about how to use your resources ? time, money, and employees. When you know your outcome, you can continually make important decisions ? is this going to help me reach my goal or will this take me further away from my objective?

Clearly defined outcomes can also be very motivating. I worked with a coaching client who had an idea about a new business that she wanted to start. When she first got the idea, she was very excited about it, however, she never took action to get the business moving. She continually came up with excuses about why she wasn't doing anything to make the business a reality. I finally got her to sit down and write a detailed description of what the outcome was that she wanted to achieve with the business. That was the missing key. As soon as she wrote down the detailed outcome, she began to do the things that were necessary to get the business started. For her, defining the outcome spurred the action that is required in any business. Five years later, she has a very successful business that she absolutely loves.

Some people have a great deal of difficulty in trying to determine outcomes. It is because they are looking into a future that isn't certain and they can't identify what it is they want. An easy way to get around this is to imagine that the outcome has already been achieved and then to describe what it looks like. Going back to the situation with the meeting planner, the question that I asked her was, "Let's assume it is six months after the conference and you know that it was a huge success. What would have happened to let you know that it was successful?" People are much more able to describe the past then they are to identify an unknown future. By asking the question this way, I was able to find out that according to the planner, the criterion for a successful meeting was that the attendees would have the tools they needed to be able to more easily and effectively handle the many changes that were going on in their industry. When I discovered this outcome, I was able to suggest a program that would help the organization achieve this desired result.

Before you take action (small or large), you need to identify what your outcome is ? what do you want to achieve? When you do that, you will cut down your time, streamline your efforts, accelerate your progress, and reach your desired goal. When you know where you are going, there is a good chance that you will end up getting there.

Della Menechella is a speaker, author, and trainer who helps organizations achieve greater success by improving the performance of their people. She is a contributing author to Thriving in the Midst of Change and the author of the videotape The Twelve Commandments of Goal Setting. She can be reached at della@dellamenechella.com. Subscribe to free Peak Performance Pointers ezine - send blank e-mail to subscribe@dellamenechella.com.

---

Goals ? The Forgotten Success Element

Goals are extremely important and are the key to any... Read More

21 Life Changing Questions You Cant Afford to Not Ask!

Imagine finally taking off seven coats you've been wearing on... Read More

Do you Have the Burning Desire to Lose Weight or Reach any Goal?

NOTE: This article is one of the component parts of... Read More

The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Goals

Human beings are goal-seeking creatures. We are impatient and try,... Read More

How To Score Your Own Goals With Sarah

Do you know where your company is going? Do you... Read More

Are Your Goals Exciting?

This may sound like a strange question, but are you... Read More

Hustle While You Wait

Everything comes to those who hustle while they wait -Thomas... Read More

Your Goals Are Unique

We have just begun another new year in our lives.... Read More

Goals - If You Don?t Know What You Want, Then How Are You Going to Get It?

Recently, I spoke with a client who wanted me to... Read More

The Influence of People Who Surround You

It is known that the human body sends out vibrations:... Read More

Are You Willing To Risk It?

What would your life be like if you kept doing... Read More

Housewife....Is That All You Are?

Scenario: You have taken care of the house, the kids,... Read More

Perfection the Un-Live-Able Goal

When we have a thought or idea that we want... Read More

Six Keys to build vision (overview and point one)

Have you ever considered why some things succeed and others... Read More

Start Working on Your Goals Today!

The alarm goes off at 6am, you roll out of... Read More

The Great American Dream Challenge

Pull Quote: "the secret to living a "dream come true"... Read More

Organizing Your Goals

We all have goals and dreams that we want to... Read More

The Value of Focus in Reaching Your Goals

"One aught never to turn one's back on a threatened... Read More

Writing Goals Down Ties Them Up!

Writing goals describes the act of inscribing on a surface... Read More

Goal Setting and Goal Getting: The BD3 Approach

Most people have no problem setting goals. At the same... Read More

One Stroke at a Time

"One stroke at a time." In an interview, Tiger Woods... Read More

Achieve Your Goals: Embodying Your Intentions to Inspire Manifestation

Bringing life to your ideas is what helps them to... Read More

Figure Out the Pebble in Your Shoe

"By asking for the impossible, we obtain the best possible."... Read More

Create Your Path to Success - Achieve Key Goals

Creating your path to success depends on walking on a... Read More

Goals: What Would You Like to Accomplish in the Next 90 Days?

"What would you like to accomplish in the next 90... Read More

Goal Setting and Interviewing

Before you go on an interview process or even start... Read More

What is The Right Action That Leads To Your Ultimate Goals?

What is the right thing I need to do to... Read More

The Goal Setting Blueprint

Why is goal setting important? Because without goals you don't... Read More

How to Maximize Goals, Affirmations and Visualizations

Do you want to get better results from daily exercises... Read More

Habits What I Want For You

Think for a moment about your Self. Is there something... Read More

How Being Intentional Makes You Happy

"Inspiration does not beget action. Action begets inspiration." - Chinese... Read More

Achieve Your Goals By Doing Something About Them

The title of this article sounds simplistic but it is... Read More

How to Achieve More by Dealing with Resistance

Today I want to discuss the missing link in goal... Read More