There is a strong connection between setting goals and maintaining the motivation required to attain them successfully. You can study the logic of motivation and how to increase it. But let’s study the behavioral research that led to the understanding of the relationship between these two concepts and the theories developed to shed insight into how one influences the other. We will look into the basis of these theories and why we should utilize goal setting to maintain motivation for success.
The Theories Of Goal Setting And Motivation
The first researcher to study the relationship between goal-setting and motivation was Dr. Edwin Locke. He published his findings in 1968 in the article, “Toward A Theory Of Task Motivation And Incentives”. Locke’s goal-setting theory concluded that specific goals provided more motivation than vague ones. He found that the goals that created a challenge showed to be better motivators than easier ones. Locke also discovered that positive feedback was highly influential toward increasing motivation. He concluded that the very act of creating a goal leads to better performance.
Dr. Gary Latham set out to study the effects of goal-setting in the workplace. His results supported Locke’s findings – that there is an inseparable link between goal-setting and workplace performance. In 1990, Locke and Latham teamed up and published “A Theory Of Goal Setting & Task Performance”. Their book discusses the need to set specific and challenging goals and defines five principles for goal-setting.
- Clarity – Your goals should be clearly defined.
- Challenge – Your goals should be enough of a challenge to entice you to reach for them.
- Complexity – Do not set goals that are too complex that would cause frustration and overwhelm you.
- Commitment – Commit to yourself and your goals.
- Feedback – Have someone you check in with regularly for accountability and feedback on how you are meeting your goals.
Set SMART Goals
You may have heard of the term “SMART goals” before, but have you actually followed them? “SMART” is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. You can use this principle to define your goals clearly. Once you have defined your SMART goals and you are ready to commit, you will go far in meeting them. When you utilize feedback and accountability from a trusted friend, mentor, or coach, they will give you the push you need to keep going and not fall off track.
Improve Your Confidence And Quality Of Life
When you set challenging yet achievable goals for yourself, you will gain confidence the closer you get to achieving them. When you look at the hard work and determination it took to get you to accomplish them, it will fuel your motivation to continue to work toward more success. Practice makes perfect. The more of them you reach, the more you will believe in yourself, and that’s a very powerful thing when it comes to maintaining motivation.
Goal-setting and achievement can also improve your quality of life. When you consistently set clearly defined goals and work toward achieving them, you are living with more sense of purpose. People who know what they want and go after it, knowing they are on track to achieve it, are generally more motivated and satisfied with their life.
As you can see, there is a strong relationship between goal-setting and motivation. To sustain motivation, you must not only set goals, but they need to have structure. Following all of these principles can increase your motivation as well as your chances of achieving your goals. This is how you make your dreams a reality.
In what ways do you think goal-setting can help you to increase or maintain motivation?