Goal setting can be exciting for some and boring or unnecessary for others. Some choose to define their objectives and take action steps to achieve those, while others prefer to ‘go with the flow’. Despite the different perspectives we each have about goal setting, the fact cannot be denied – someone who sets goals and works to achieve them is far better off than someone who goes with whatever comes her way.

Goal setting provides focus, direction, and motivation. It helps us prioritize tasks, make efficient use of resources, and track progress.

What does effective and practical goal setting look like?

Effective and practical goal setting typically involves the following elements:

1. Clear, specific, and well-defined goals – They should answer these questions:

• What do you want to achieve?

• Why is it important?

• How will you measure success?

2. Measurable goals – Progress can be tracked and evaluated objectively. You will have to define your criteria or, if it’s a business goal, you need to set your key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be used to determine whether the goal has been achieved.

3. Realistic goals – Are your deadlines and workloads realistic? Although setting big goals can grow you as a person or as a business, unrealistic or overly ambitious goals can lead to frustration and demotivation.

So, now that we know what effective and practical goal setting looks like, let’s list down some goal setting tips to keep in mind:

1. Make sure your goal has focus and direction. Identify what needs to be achieved so that you can prioritize your efforts and use resources effectively.

2. Your goal must be a source of motivation and inspiration. It must provide a sense of purpose and give you something to strive for. If your goal is the opposite, then expect it to fail.

3. A well-defined goal makes it possible to measure and evaluate progress objectively. Establish specific milestones or set indicators that will tell you whether or not you are advancing. Monitor your achievements and see if you need to improve some areas.

4. Manage your time and resources well. If you don’t, you may end up taking a longer time or using up more resources than expected.

5. If you have a big goal, break them down to smaller, achievable goals. Create actionable steps and then do them.

6. If reaching your goal requires some skill sets that you do not have, ask for help. Hire someone if you need to or learn the skill if you want to and if you have enough time.

7. Be ready to adapt and change course of action, if needed. There may be times that things don’t go as planned. Be flexible with your goals and do not be hard on yourself. Circumstances change from time to time and some changes may not favor your goals. Take it as a challenge and create a better plan and follow through.

8. Setting your goal and having a solid plan and action steps are great. But you need self-confidence—belief in your abilities—to be able to achieve that goal. If you lack self-confidence, your great plans and action steps will go nowhere. Build your self-confidence by setting small milestones. Each milestone reached or accomplished reinforces belief in your abilities and fosters a positive self-perception. This can empower you to set and pursue even more ambitious goals.

Think of these eight effective and practical goal setting tips whenever you sit down to write a goal for any area of your life.