I have always struggled with goal setting. Anything I’ve done that encourages me to set goals make them feel like they are either way too big an unobtainable, or something that is unrealistic. I struggle with things like SMART goals due to time blindness, but also because so much to do with them, and any goal setting feels like too much is out of my control, and therefore pretty pointless.
For example, I could set a goal to have a certain number of people attend a workshop, however them actually signing up is out of my control. I could have the best program in the world, but there are other factors that may prevent people signing up, and that may mean I don’t achieve that goal. Even though these factors are out of my control, I feel bad that the goal wasn’t achieved, and it unlocks a PDA response that I’m not good enough.
Today, I heard about NICE Goals.
NICE stands for:
N = near term (close enough that it feels real)
I = input based (things you are going to DO)
C = controllable (things you have control over)
E = energising (a goal that lights you up)
I kind of like these ones.
These are short term goals, a timeframe I can actually visualise. As it’s based on me with input and control, these are things I can actually do. Adding to it that it’s something that lights me up, rather than things like SMART goals that involve tasks that drain me of energy (like making lots of phone calls to get people to come to the workshop), it makes it more likely that I’ll do it.
I’ve been thinking about this all day.
For me, a NICE goal can include things like finishing the manuscript of a book, or a round of edits. It’s not about selling a certain number of books or getting reviews, both are things I have no control over.
Reading about NICE goals today has started to change my thinking about goal setting. I already know that I can’t do SMART goals, but I think I’ll give NICE goals a try for a while and see how that goes. It might actually help me get some of the many stories I have sitting unfinished completed!
Thanks to Sam Winch for introducing me to NICE goals.
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