Did you set goals when you were a teenager? Did you ever have someone who helped you with goal setting? If you did set goals, how effective was the process you followed? Did you achieve your goals or did you quit? Did you always feel you were reaching your potential?
I have been a goal setter for most of my life. My goals motivated and inspired me to stay focused and to stand up to negative peer pressure on occasions.
Life lessons
While I might not have achieved all my goals, I learnt much about myself through the process — and continue to do so — and still enjoy that amazing feeling when I manage to achieve a specific goal, be it academic, sport, relational, or pursuing a hobby, or some other activity.
What have I learnt from the experience?
Well, the truth is that I am still learning! Although now retired, I still set annual goals, and break these down into monthly goals, because I want to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle and enjoy a fulfilling life.
The work I have done over the years as a teacher, sport coach, and mentor of teenagers always involves goal setting. I have learnt that, when a young person starts achieving their personal best goals, they begin to find meaning and purpose in their lives, and they are more motivated and happier.
I believe this is true for the majority of people of all ages.
22 proven goal setting tips for the mentoring journey
Here are some tips that can be adapted to any personal or mentoring situation.
Remember, goal setting comes, for the most part, after you have established a connection with your mentee, or someone else you are guiding, and some feelings of trust exist, a process that could take up to six months.
Much will depend on the background and current circumstances of the person you are moving alongside.
- Have a clear picture (your personal photograph) of what you want to achieve.
- Make sure the goal you are working towards is something you really want to attain.
- Always write your goal as a positive visualisation statement.
- Always write out your goal in complete detail.
- Always ensure your short-term goals are small, specific, realistic, achievable and measurable.
- Ensure that your goal has a clear deadline.
- Make a list of anticipated obstacles and see how many can be converted into positive opportunities – is there someone you trust who can help you with this?
- Identify all the skills, information, knowledge, resources, and help from people and organizations that you will need to achieve your goals.
- Always ensure that you have a clear plan of action in place.
- Remember that goals change as you mature. You need to review them regularly, adjust them when and where necessary, or reframe them, thus reflecting the growth in your personality, your life circumstances, your priority changes and new opportunities.
- Don’t let goal setting become your master — goals must bring you real pleasure, satisfaction, and a sense of achievement. If this is not happening, revisit them.
- Personal factors such as tiredness, other commitments, and the need for rest, for example, should be taken into account when you set your goals.
- Don’t set too many goals at any one time.
- Start the goal setting process with small, specific, measurable and easily achievable action steps, and then begin to stretch yourself a little more as your self-confidence increases.
- Be consistent and have the courage to act, and to take non life-threatening risks.
- Set challenging goals that require energy and self-discipline to achieve.
- Reward your progress towards the achievement of your goal — celebrate every small step.
- Focus on your goals on a daily basis (consider placing your goals in a video which you can often refer to, perhaps share with someone you trust, or place them in a diary, or on your mobile phone).
- Consider setting your goals after you have discussed management of time with someone you trust, remembering that you manage your own time.
- Ensure that your goals are aligned to your values, your mission, your purpose in life.
- Rid yourself of the negative factors in your life; the negative people (wherever possible).
- Use your failures as learning curves for planning future successes.
Always seek to make goal setting a fun and enjoyable aspect of the mentoring journey, and don’t take yourself or life too seriously.
How are you doing with your goals? A story to share with a young person?
