Goal Setting Leads to Goal Achievement

Dear Coach John,

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the importance of goal setting, but I’m not sure where to start.  Do I start with only big goals, or do I start with smaller goals that I know I can achieve?

I want to make sure that I’m setting my goals high enough that I can achieve them to keep up my motivation.  Is there is a process or method you use with your athletes to help them select the goals which are best suited to their needs?  How do you go about setting goals that will help raise confidence but at the same time stretch my abilities?

Coach John’s answer:

Let’s approach the answer from a season performance perspective. What would you like to accomplish by the end of the season? Take a look at where you are currently with your skills, and where your performance finished at the end of last season. Ask the coach to assess your performance and to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Identify 2-3 performance objectives and 2-3 mental game objectives you wish to accomplish by the end of the season. First, each of the goals must be achievable, but not too easy and not impossible to achieve. For instance, if you want to be the best tennis player at your level in nationals this year, you must ask yourself if this is achievable. Second, each of the goals must also be quantifiable and measurable so you can track them over the course of the season.  If you are not tracking on a path to achieve the goals at identified milestone intervals throughout the season then you must make adjustments to the goals. I like to divide the season up into quarters. If I am not tracking on a path to reach my goals by mid season, then adjustments need to be made to the goals so that I “can” succeed.

The objective to having goals is to achieve them, have success, and build confidence. If you set the goals too high you will have set an unrealistic expectation for your performance, you will not achieve, and you might seriously damage your motivation. Setting unrealistic expectations on your performance is the number one killer of confidence. Building confidence incrementally is absolutely critical to success and believing in your abilities as an athlete.

The objective to having goals is to achieve them, have success, and build confidence. If you set the goals too high you will have set an unrealistic expectation for your performance, you will not achieve, and you might seriously damage your motivation. Setting unrealistic expectations on your performance is the number one killer of confidence. Building confidence incrementally is absolutely critical to success and believing in your abilities as an athlete.

For more information on goal setting please take a look at my book entitled, Mental Edge, Performance Journaling System. In the book I go into great detail about goal setting and provide some goal setting exercise to help you get started.  www.protexsports.com. You may also send me your request by filling in the “contact us” for on the website.