To achieve the objective, first of all, it is necessary this purpose to designate correctly. In pedagogics, public administration, coaching and psychology there are different technologies of goal-setting which are used for increase in efficiency of achievement of various tasks.
Technologies of goal-setting are intended for the most exact definition of ultimate goals, and, therefore, and search of ways of their decision. In various fields of activity different technologies are applied, however, all of them have certain general principles in the basis.
Meaning of technology of goal-setting
Careful work with terminology becomes the first step, as a rule. The purpose needs to be formulated so that to avoid possible ambiguities and wrong interpretation. For this purpose it is necessary to define for itself all terms used in a formulation of the purpose. For example, the purpose "to become richer" is a bad option as allows a set of interpretation. And here the formulation "by 2015 is much better to triple the income" as uses unambiguous terms.
The next important point – measurability of the purpose. It is necessary to set a task so that there was a possibility of check of its performance. If to formulate the purpose vaguely and abstractly, for example "to become happier", you can face what will not manage to be defined, you reached the desirable, or not. Therefore your purpose has to be objectively measurable.
The most popular technology of goal-setting is S.M.A.R.T – an abbreviation of five English words meaning: concreteness, measurability, approachibility, effectiveness and certain term.
At last, the task set by you surely has to be potentially solvable. The unattainable purposes are a source of an additional stress and disappointments. At the same time it is necessary that for achievement of the goal certain efforts as, having set itself the task "to live till Monday" were required, you hardly change something in the life (except for, of course, extreme cases).
Technique areas of application
In coaching, that is, the method of psychological consultation focused on achievement of the goals, considerable attention is paid to definition of true needs of the client. Often it happens that during consultation the client cardinally changes the purposes, understanding that really significantly and it is necessary for him. As a rule, such effect is reached by means of a set of the leading questions inducing clients to decide on terms, requirements and opportunities. Further assessment of the current state of affairs and search of the simplest way to the purpose, proceeding from the available data follows.
Frequent error of goal-setting, especially in pedagogics, management or social work, replacement of a specific goal with a slogan which is capable to motivate is, but the true purpose is not.
As for pedagogics, here technologies of goal-setting are applied, first of all, in order that each conducted lesson brought to pupils practical benefits. In teaching situations when perfectly given classes do not solve any problems are frequent, representing process for the sake of process. The technicians of goal-setting forcing the teacher to formulate the task for each lesson help to avoid such cases, and at the end to check its performance.