SCRIPTURE: “I don’t run without a goal. And I don’t box by beating my fists in the air” – 1 Corinthians 9:26 (CEV).
QUOTE: “Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life” – Les Brown
NOTE:
If you want to increase your level of personal effectiveness, you must learn the skill of setting clear goals. Without goals there can be no achievements or success. The clearer a goal is, the more accomplishable the goal will be. Goal setting is a process that helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You’ll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray.
Setting clear goals is a critical part of any leader who wants to be effective. In order to increase personal effectiveness, you mustn’t just set goals, you must set clear goals. Your goals must be SMART. It must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. You must learn to set clear, focused goals so that you can achieve more and be more productive and effective.
ILLUSTRATION:
Imagine running a race where the finish line hasn’t been clearly defined. You are told you’ll know it when you find it. At first it may sound exciting and then it gets frustrating and very demoralizing as you get tired. You have no idea if you are getting closer to the finish line. A race without a finish line doesn’t sound reasonable yet this is what we do every time we don’t set clear goals. The alternative is to set a goal that defines how you will know when you are done. A good goal also informs us how close we are to achieving it because we can measure our progress. It is also motivating knowing we are making progress and getting closer to the finish line. This means we have to ask ourselves some important questions: How will I assess completion? What will I measure? Who will measure it? Setting clear goals is a skill you must master if you are to increase your personal effectiveness.
REFLECTION:
- Do you have clear goals you’re pursuing? Are your goals written down?
- Do you work with a to-do list?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Kings 10 – 11, Psalm 9