GOALS
Goal setting techniques are used by top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields. The best way to take your motivations and create balance is to tie it all to a goal.
What is a goal? Simply, a goal is a written statement with a deadline. A goal should inspire you to do the work. Your goals should excite and even scare you in a positive way. A goal is not a ‘to do’ list or an idea, what your family/husband/wife/parents/etc. wants for you, or what society thinks is right for you. Goals are set to help you create what does not already exist. They are based on a long-term plan that has no constraints, anything is possible. Whatever you need to achieve your long-term goal (skills, funding, experience, etc.) you can gain with time.
Why do we need to set goals?
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn this vision of the future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you will know where you have to concentrate your efforts.
Properly-set goals can be incredibly motivating, and as you get into the habit of setting and achieving goals, you'll find that your self-confidence builds fast. Goals focus your acquisition of knowledge, and help you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. You can see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence, as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that would otherwise lure you from your course.
‘To any that desires the soil of the Hereafter, We will increase in his soil, and to any that desires the soil of this world, We grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter.’
Qur'an, Ash-Shura 42:20
If you think of goal setting in the context of the above surah then inshaAllah it will be an outstanding reminder that our goals should ideally be Islam focused. For the majority of people if you ask them what their number one goal in life is, it is rare to hear someone say ‘Pleasing Allah, or achieving Jannat Al-Firdows (the highest level of Jannah) and being with Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alayhi wasallam in the hereafter.’ Can you imagine how fruitful your life would be if that was the aim in our lives, and isn’t that what Work Faith Balance is all about?
HOW TO SET GOALS?
InshaAllah we’ll go through how to set goals.
State each goal as a positive statement: Express your goals positively – ‘I am going to study one hour a day' is a much better goal than 'I won’t waste time’
Be precise: Set a precise goal, putting in dates, times and amounts so that you can measure achievement.
Set priorities: When you have several goals, give each a priority. This helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by having too many goals.
Write goals down: This crystallizes them and gives them more force.
Keep goals small but challenging: Keeping goals small and incremental gives more opportunities for reward.
Set performance goals, not outcome goals: You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible.
Set realistic goals: It is important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (employers, parents, media, society) can set unrealistic goals for you. They will often do this in ignorance of your own desires and ambitions.
How can you set goals that are specific?
There is an acronym SMART- specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. What is brilliant is the acronym SMARTER.
S
Specific
Well defined goals provide clarity, direction, motivation and focus. The goal statement needs to reflect this. It should be inspirational enough to move you towards something in life that you want, or move you away from something you don’t want.
M
Measurable
Goals are easier to track if they are measurable. Some are easy to measure e.g. weight loss, running, earnings. If you can be clear about how you will measure your goal it will help you to see that you are moving in the right direction and make adjustments if necessary.
A
Action- orientated
Developing a strategy for how you are going to achieve your goal is key. You don’t need to have all the answers but a plan with a general focus towards your goal, and associated actions are a good start.
R
Reasoned and realistic
It is important for your goals to be relevant to you and your life. If they are not meaningful or significant for you then it will be harder to achieve. Be realistic about your goals and then the actions you need to take will become ones that you can actually do.
T
Time bound
Goals without deadlines can be put off until tomorrow. If you have a deadline it will help you to keep focus and measure.
E
Ethical, exciting and enjoyable
If you aren’t excited about your goal, who will be? Goals that are more achievable if they are exciting and you really want them.
Goals also need to be ethical, this is particularly important for us as Muslims. Research shows that people who have ethical goals are subconsciously more likely to achieve them. Try not to create goals that you won’t achieve because they are in conflict with your values, ethics or motivations.
R
Resourced
Your goal may need some resources committed to make it happen. This could be in the form of money, time, support, information or anything else. Again, don’t sabotage your goals by not carefully considering what resources you need.
An example of a SMART goal:
‘I am going to complete that assignment by Thursday at 5pm’
An example of a SMARTER goal:
‘I am going to complete that assignment on the of the leadership of Umar radi Allahu anhu by Thursday at 5pm. I have allocated time against it and am going to enjoy writing it.’
One final thought inshaAllah is, patience. There is an ayat of the Quran that we should reflect on for this:
‘Oh you who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer, surely Allah is with the patient.’
Qur’an Surah Baqara, verse 153
Remember successful people set goals, really successful people write them down.
Resource 13 includes a template showing you how you can set goals using a great method called results, purpose, massive action plan.
Goal setting techniques are used by top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields. The best way to take your motivations and create balance is to tie it all to a goal.
What is a goal? Simply, a goal is a written statement with a deadline. A goal should inspire you to do the work. Your goals should excite and even scare you in a positive way. A goal is not a ‘to do’ list or an idea, what your family/husband/wife/parents/etc. wants for you, or what society thinks is right for you. Goals are set to help you create what does not already exist. They are based on a long-term plan that has no constraints, anything is possible. Whatever you need to achieve your long-term goal (skills, funding, experience, etc.) you can gain with time.
Why do we need to set goals?
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn this vision of the future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you will know where you have to concentrate your efforts.
Properly-set goals can be incredibly motivating, and as you get into the habit of setting and achieving goals, you'll find that your self-confidence builds fast. Goals focus your acquisition of knowledge, and help you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. You can see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence, as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that would otherwise lure you from your course.
‘To any that desires the soil of the Hereafter, We will increase in his soil, and to any that desires the soil of this world, We grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter.’
Qur'an, Ash-Shura 42:20
If you think of goal setting in the context of the above surah then inshaAllah it will be an outstanding reminder that our goals should ideally be Islam focused. For the majority of people if you ask them what their number one goal in life is, it is rare to hear someone say ‘Pleasing Allah, or achieving Jannat Al-Firdows (the highest level of Jannah) and being with Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alayhi wasallam in the hereafter.’ Can you imagine how fruitful your life would be if that was the aim in our lives, and isn’t that what Work Faith Balance is all about?
HOW TO SET GOALS?
InshaAllah we’ll go through how to set goals.
State each goal as a positive statement: Express your goals positively – ‘I am going to study one hour a day' is a much better goal than 'I won’t waste time’
Be precise: Set a precise goal, putting in dates, times and amounts so that you can measure achievement.
Set priorities: When you have several goals, give each a priority. This helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by having too many goals.
Write goals down: This crystallizes them and gives them more force.
Keep goals small but challenging: Keeping goals small and incremental gives more opportunities for reward.
Set performance goals, not outcome goals: You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible.
Set realistic goals: It is important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (employers, parents, media, society) can set unrealistic goals for you. They will often do this in ignorance of your own desires and ambitions.
How can you set goals that are specific?
There is an acronym SMART- specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. What is brilliant is the acronym SMARTER.
S
Specific
Well defined goals provide clarity, direction, motivation and focus. The goal statement needs to reflect this. It should be inspirational enough to move you towards something in life that you want, or move you away from something you don’t want.
M
Measurable
Goals are easier to track if they are measurable. Some are easy to measure e.g. weight loss, running, earnings. If you can be clear about how you will measure your goal it will help you to see that you are moving in the right direction and make adjustments if necessary.
A
Action- orientated
Developing a strategy for how you are going to achieve your goal is key. You don’t need to have all the answers but a plan with a general focus towards your goal, and associated actions are a good start.
R
Reasoned and realistic
It is important for your goals to be relevant to you and your life. If they are not meaningful or significant for you then it will be harder to achieve. Be realistic about your goals and then the actions you need to take will become ones that you can actually do.
T
Time bound
Goals without deadlines can be put off until tomorrow. If you have a deadline it will help you to keep focus and measure.
E
Ethical, exciting and enjoyable
If you aren’t excited about your goal, who will be? Goals that are more achievable if they are exciting and you really want them.
Goals also need to be ethical, this is particularly important for us as Muslims. Research shows that people who have ethical goals are subconsciously more likely to achieve them. Try not to create goals that you won’t achieve because they are in conflict with your values, ethics or motivations.
R
Resourced
Your goal may need some resources committed to make it happen. This could be in the form of money, time, support, information or anything else. Again, don’t sabotage your goals by not carefully considering what resources you need.
An example of a SMART goal:
‘I am going to complete that assignment by Thursday at 5pm’
An example of a SMARTER goal:
‘I am going to complete that assignment on the of the leadership of Umar radi Allahu anhu by Thursday at 5pm. I have allocated time against it and am going to enjoy writing it.’
One final thought inshaAllah is, patience. There is an ayat of the Quran that we should reflect on for this:
‘Oh you who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer, surely Allah is with the patient.’
Qur’an Surah Baqara, verse 153
Remember successful people set goals, really successful people write them down.
Resource 13 includes a template showing you how you can set goals using a great method called results, purpose, massive action plan.
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