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'It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that
determines your altitude.' - Zig Ziglar
The
Business Expert
This week, ANN SKIDMORE, a
Personal Coach, looks at goal-setting during the summer months.
IT'S the time of year when we all have some kind of
holiday or break and, away from our normal routines, we start to ponder on that
next career move up the ladder or how to become thinner. So while you are
sitting in a deckchair, sipping an aperitif, you might want to consider the
following five top tips. Alternatively, you might use these top tips in any
goal-setting exercise.
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Get clear about precisely what it
is you want - not what you don't want. Many people set goals which are about
what they don't want, for example "I don't want this stressful job anymore"
or "I don't enjoy being a manager". These goals are focusing on what they
don't want not what they do want, so they are focusing on stress or not
enjoying their role. A goal should be stated in the positive, for example,
"I want a job in which I can be stretched and developed and can be achieved
alongside my life outside of work".
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Be specific - not vague. Be as
clear and specific as possible. Give yourself clear deadlines, for example,
rather than "I want to be thinner" set a goal such as "I want to weigh nine
stone by December 1". This is a very specific goal and gives your brain
clear instructions.
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Make sure that you are in control
of making the goal happen. Sometimes the goals we set ourselves depend on
others doing certain things. We need to set goals that we are in control of
achieving. For example, "I want my boss to promote me", requires us to
consider what we can do that will make our boss want to promote us.
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Mentally rehearse achieving your
goal. Sports people visualise themselves winning again and again. Give your
brain a clear idea of what it is like to achieve your goal. If you want to
stop smoking, get a clear picture of what life will be like and how you will
feel once you are healthy and nicotine free. Visualise all the pleasurable
aspects of achieving this goal.
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Understand the benefits. If you
have tried to change something in the past and didn't succeed, one of the
most likely reasons is that the old behaviour gave you benefits that your
brain did not want to give up. For example, smoking makes some people
relaxed. So the intention behind the behaviour is a good one, even if the
behaviour is undesirable. So find alternative ways of achieving the benefit
that the old behaviour gave you, find new ways to relax.
Enjoy your goal-setting!
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