We all have dreams, wishes and desires. Many years back, I heard someone say that a dream with a date is a goal. In fact, a dream without a date is probably just that... a dream. Well, you will get somewhere without consciously setting a goal, the question is would you really like where you have reached? Since you are anyway getting somewhere in all spheres of life, would you rather get to a destination of choice? Or are you the impulsive creative explorer... living in the moment, seeking a sense of satisfaction by exploring uncharted territories? Is goal setting you style or are you better off without it?
WHAT is goal setting?
A dream with a date is the easiest and most direct way to answer this question. But a more formal and technical response to this question would be as follows: Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable and time-targeted objectives.
WHY is goal setting important?
Setting a goal for your self or for your team helps you set focus on what exactly you want to achieve (qualitatively and quantitatively), and by when. With focus, you take specific and clear actions and move in the desired direction without wasting time on unnecessary stuff. Thus you are highly likely to get what you really want and by the time you want it. Since goal setting begins with identifying what you really want to achieve, you end up removing the unimportant stuff that may seem important but are really just distractions. If you cannot completely eliminate a few things, you would at least pull and push priorities more efficiently since you are now on a definite time-line for achievement. With clear goals, you can lead yourself better and people like to follow someone who knows where he/she is going.
WHY is goal setting NOT important?
Rather, would I succeed without any goal setting? Sure! But I personally believe that this is a state of mastery. Once you have reached a certain level of proficiency, you deliver excellence with very little deliberate effort. You become a natural at giving your best at all times. As they say, to break the rules, you need to first learn the rules. So if you want to achieve a significant level of competence in a relatively new or difficult aspect of life... setting a goal with timelines and clear targets is the time-tested way to move forward. But once you've become the "guru" in that space, you just focus your mind on what needs to be done in the present, and you would probably surprise yourself with the results that you would end up delivering.
Here is another way of looking at it:
Extremely creative (right brained) people often feel confined with defined time-lines, spaces, targets and paths. As someone said, creativity does not necessarily happen from 9 to 5. Such creative souls may be productive beyond one's imagination if they are given a mere idea of a possible end, the right kind of environment, the right inspiration and just left alone.
In fact, when you are a beginner at a difficult task, you use more of the analytical and logical thinking with plans, measures, regular tracking, etc. you heavily depend on left-brain thinking patterns. But once you have reached mastery, you have kind of moved over to more of the right-brain thought patterns.
So DO YOU need to set goals?
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What do I want to accomplish and by when?
2. Given the time and quality constraints, is the target easy or difficult? i.e. How ready am I?
3. Am I more of a creative type of person or a more analytical and logical type of person?
4. Is it more of a personal achievement or a team achievement I am considering?
5. I may be very creative and work best without a goal, but could I expect the same of my team?
6. Lastly, what is the price of failure in case I do not achieve what I have set out to achieve? Is my career at stake? Are the careers of my team members at stake?
Now reflect on the thoughts shared above and you may get the answer spontaneously. If you have taken the time to read this far, it would be great of you could also share your thoughts with me.
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