So how can you give yourself the best chance of successfully achieving your goals and your dreams?
One way to do this is to create a vision with an outcome that motivates you to move forward. By building a complete picture of that goal, and creating a strong internal representation of it, you can make the difference that speeds you to success.
Using NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) principles, which model successful people we can create a great Vision. It involves asking a set of questions that identify and clarify your intentions, actions, and thoughts, so that you can define your goal in a "well-formed" way. Why not give the following steps a try.
Step 1 – Define your outcome
Explore what you want to achieve and clarify your goal using the SMART formula and a PURE perspective.
SMART, seen below, is based on Edwin Locke’s goal-setting theory. SMART stands for:
Specific
Be specific about the outcome you want:
What, exactly, do you want to achieve?
Where do you want to be at the end of the process or journey?
Where, and with whom, do you want to achieve it?
Where, and with whom, do you not want to achieve it?
Measurable
How will you know when you've achieved your goal?
What evidence will you have? How will you measure your progress?
What will you see, hear, and feel when you achieve your outcome?
Attainable
Check to see if your goal is realistic. Do you have a good chance of achieving it?
Do you have, or can you access, the resources needed to achieve your goal?
Relevant
Is your goal in line with your priorities, objectives, and values?
Time-bound
By when, precisely, do you want to have achieved the goal?
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Step 2 – Check your current state
We sometimes don't achieve our desired outcomes because something within us holds us back, and sometimes we may not even be aware of what that is. So, until you ask yourself the right questions, you may not know that you need to change your attitude or your approach.
Here are some questions to help you uncover any hidden blocks:
What do you get if you don't achieve your outcome? Are there any physical, emotional or psychological "pay-offs" that you get if you fail to achieve your goals?
Do you need to give up or change anything to move toward your outcome?
Are there any practical limitations – for example, lack of time or resource – that may hold you back?
Are there any other circumstances that might block your progress?
Are there any actions you could take to eliminate or minimize these blocks?
Step 3 – Create a strong internal representation
Your mind cannot always tell the difference between what's real and what's imagined. So, if you create a strong internal representation of the sights, sounds, and feelings you'll experience when you achieve your goal, you can help yourself move toward that goal.
Imagine that you're creating a movie of yourself during and after you've achieved your goal. Ask yourself the following questions to help create this movie.
Sight – What do you see? Create a mental "movie" of yourself achieving your goal, running from start to end. Make sure that this is as vivid and accurate as possible.
Sound – What do you hear? What will you say to yourself? What will others say to you? Incorporate this into your mental movie.
Feelings – What do you feel? What are the physical sensations of being there, and what positive emotions are you experiencing? Add these too.
Step 4 – Create a well-formed outcome
Once you have your outcome, ask yourself these questions to explore and connect with your goal further:
How will you know when you've achieved your outcome? What are your measures of success or benchmarks for achievement? (This picks up and develops the SMART goals you set)
What resources do you need to achieve your outcome? Are other people involved? How do they need to contribute?
What will happen when you achieve your goal? How will it benefit you? Identify at least three benefits of achieving your goal.
How will achieving your outcome affect other areas of your life?
What will happen if you do not achieve your goal?
What will not happen if you achieve your goal?
What will not happen if you do not achieve your goal?
Step 5 – Integrate your outcome
Now enrich the movie you created in step 3 with the additional details you gleaned from step 4.
Imagine the place, the people, and the sights and sounds and feelings you will experience. In your mind, walk, talk, and behave as if you are there now.
After you experience your movie, return your attention to the present time, and start taking the actions now that will move you forward.
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A SMART VISION - Eample by *Rachel Tompson*
Step 1 – Define your outcome
It is now July 1, 2010, and I've become more confident and comfortable in my role as training manager with XYZ Company. I inspire a team of 10, and we all enjoy one another's successes in delivering new courses to new clients who give us very positive feedback (on average, "highly satisfactory" ratings).
When I achieve my goal, I will have developed my management and leadership skills, and I will have spent at least one hour each week learning and applying new skills. I will have met each individual team member on a biweekly basis to stay up-to-date on each person's projects and to provide guidance and motivation.
Step 2 – Check your current state
If I don't achieve this outcome, I will still perform adequately and it will be easier to let things simply continue as they are because everyone knows what they're doing. However, the team may not achieve the average "highly satisfactory" rating from clients. The general feeling might not be inspired, energized, or motivated.
I need to create time for developing my own leadership and management skills, and time for meeting with each member of my team on an individual basis.
There are no other circumstances that might block my progress.
Step 3 – Create a strong internal representation
What will I see? A lively, energetic office.
What will I hear? Laughter; and people having fun, yet working hard.
What will I feel? Satisfaction that I can make a difference to my team and our clients.
Step 4 – Create a well-formed outcome
Q: How will you know when you've achieved your outcome? What are your measures of success or benchmarks for achievement?
A: I will know I've achieved the outcome when we're delivering results, the feedback from clients is "highly satisfactory," and team members are beating their performance targets.
Q: What resources do you need to achieve your outcome? Are other people involved? How do they need to contribute?
A: Necessary resources include time to study and to get to know team members on a more personal level.
Q: What will happen when you achieve your goal? How will it benefit you? Identify at least three benefits of achieving your goal.
A: I stand a good chance of receiving a bonus for meeting targets. I will be pleased that clients have developed their skills as a result of our courses, and this will give my work more meaning. By being a better manager, my team members will be more loyal to me, so we'll have lower staff turnover – and that's good for me because training new staff takes up a lot of time that I would rather spend developing new courses.
Q: What will happen if you do not achieve your goal?
A: We could lose our grant from the government skills development authority.
All of this helps you develop a strong, powerful, motivating and compelling goal, and makes it one that you'll work hard to achieve.*
A very happy 2010 to all - may you have great vision and achieve in your goals. To your success...
