Objectives and Goals

Goals, Objectives and Strategies

Goals can be of short term or long term. Long term goals are similar to a life time achievement. According to Smith Charmayne (2013), goals are a big picture and it is of a broader sense when compared to objectives and strategies. Having a goal in life implies that the individual has a direction to move towards in life and not a ship without a direction in the middle of the sea.

Objectives are more specific than goals, however, leads to achieving the ultimate goal. Strategies are smaller steps that help in achieving the objectives.

There are two methods that could be followed to set goals and objectives;

• Using the SMART technique
• Using the NLP technique

SMART Techniques
The SMART Technique is a goal/objective setting method and it is the most common method used today. Nikitina Arina (goal-setting-guide, 2012) points out that SMART stands for the criteria that needs to be satisfied when setting a goal/obj;

S-Specific
M-Measurable
A-Attainable
R-Realistic
T-Timely

Specific - covers the questions of what, why and how.
Measurable - this makes sure that the progress towards achieving the goal could be measured.
Attainable - ensure that the goal specified is not far fetched, and it is achievable with some real effort and hard work.
Realistic - means the goal must be do-able, which also means that it should not be too easy or impossible to do.
Timely - to impose a time frame to achieve this goal. Giving a deadline provides a clear target to achieve.

My SMART Goals

Short Term	Complete the final draft for the Project Management assignment by the end of this week. Get the character certificate from Alethea International School Dehiwala, next Wednesday at 2.30pm
Medium Term	Reach 100kmph, driving my dad’s bike after maintenance and repairs, in marine drive within 3 months. Complete this semester with minimum of two A s and one B.
Long Term	Become a project manager at Virtusa within 2 years, after graduation. Drive a Lamborghini in Sri Lanka for a period of 2 hours, before turning 25 years.

NLP Technique
Neuro-Linguistic Processing/Programming abbreviated as NLP is also known as The Well Formed Outcome Model, reported by Bodenhamer Bob (neurosemantics.com, 2013). The philosophy behind this technique is making the goal or objective very specific, more specific than the SMART technique, by training ourselves to achieve desired targets through our neurological and physiological capabilities.

Bodenhamer Bob (neurosemantics.com, 2013) advises the following steps that aid in identifying an individual's desired state.

1. State the Goal in positive term - this is to compare the current state and the future goal optimistically. Answering questions like what is needed? where are you now? etc.
2. Specify the goal in Sensory Based Terms - Involves the break-down of the big goal into smaller achievable objectives, analyzing the role played by all senses like see, hear, feel, etc. 
3. Specify the goal in a way that you find compelling - In a nutshell, when you see the goal, make sure to see yourself having achieved that goal.
4. Run a quality control check to make sure the goal fits you - this is to make sure that no part of the individual objects to this goal, also pay attention to how oneself responds to this step in terms of images, sound, words and sensation.
5. Self initiated and maintained - make sure that this goal does not depend or is an influence of another individual, it is purely your goal and is maintainable.
6. State the context of the goal - test the goal by answering the questions of where, when, how and with whom.
7. State the resources required to achieve the goal - identify the resources required to get this goal, ask yourself if it had been done before by some else or yourself, what are the barriers to achieve this goal.
8. Evidence Procedure - finally, state how the achievement is realized or evaluated.

Both the above describes techniques are proven to be helpful in goal setting and achieving. However, personally, the SMART goal setting technique is more preferable, because it has less planning when compared with the NLP technique. Also, the short term goal listed in the table above was achieved and I am comfortable with the technique.

In conclusion, the SMART technique is a way of putting down the goal in a mind in a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely manner. Where as the NLP technique trains an individual to work towards the goal. It more specific and it digs deep to achieve the desire.