Goal Setting involves setting specific, measurable and time targeted objectives. In an organisational or business context, it may be an effective tool for making progress by ensuring that participants are clearly aware of what is expected from them, if an objective is to be achieved. On a personal level, Goal setting is a process that allows people to specify then work towards their own objectives - most commonly with financial or career-based goals. Goal setting is a major component of Personal development literature. Personal development (also known as self-development or personal growth) comprises the development of the self. ...
The business technique of Management by objectives uses the principle of goal setting. In business, goal setting has the advantages of encouraging participants to put in substantial effort; and, because every member is aware of what is expected of him or her (high role perception), little room is left of inadequate effort going unnoticed. Management by Objectives (MBO) is a process of agreeing upon objectives within an organization so that management and employees buy in to the objectives and understand what they are. ...
To be most effective goals should be tangible, specific, realistic and have a time targeted for completion. For example, setting a goal to go to Mars (planet) on a shoe string budget and very tight schedule may not improve intensity or persistence from employees and may actually achieve the opposite. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ...
One drawback of goal setting is that implicit learning may be impended. This is because goal setting may encourage simple focus on an outcome without openness to exploration, understanding or growth. "Goals provide a sense of direction and purpose" (Goldstein, 1993, p.96). Locke et al. (1981) examined the behavioral effects of goal-setting, concluding that 90% of laboratory and field studies involving specific and challenging goals led to higher performance than easy or no goals.
To some degree, their argument is true: Goalsetting is not a crystal ball, nor does it carry with it any guarantees.
In fact, those people who set only business-related goals decrease their odds of having a well-balanced, happy life: Those who direct their subconscious to solve only business problems risk creating lives that focus on careers and neglect all other areas.
If your wheel is round but small, you need to setgoals in all areas of your life in order to expand your wheel and to achieve greater general satisfaction.