You Can be Great If You Really Want To

Goal Setting Theory

Dr. Edwin Locke was a pioneer in the prediction and research of the connection between setting goals and motivation. He transfered the basic goal setting theory when he reached the finish that clear goals and subsequent feedback are able to force the workforces greatly. They got enthused by the underlying thought of collectively working towards the success of goals and it went a for a long while way to appreciate their performance too. He additionally discovered overly people got more ignited by goals that were challenging and exact as compared to goals too got easy and vague. Goal Setting Theory

Dr. Edwin Locke, in the later stages, worked with Dr. Gary Latham, who had done independent studies to corroborate Locke’s findings. In the late 20th Century, they identified the five main characteristics that were essential to the success of goal setting. In random order these characteristics are clarity, commitment, feedback, challenge and task complexity.

Clarity & Challenge

An important characteristic of the goal setting theory is that the best goals are those that are productive, clear-cut, and measurable. Once the goal is explicit and a clear deadline has been set, there is less misunderstanding on what is expected of the employees. A vague goal has very little motivational value. At the same time, the goal has to pose sufficient challenge to the employees. If the difficulty level is too less, your employee may end up feeling like his potential isn’t being exploited well enough by the company. Goal Setting Theory

Commitment

If the employees are to see the goals through, commitment to it is extremely important. Employees are committed to the goal if they feel they have been active participants in its creation. Most companies encourage participative management which believes in involving the employees in the process of goal setting and decision making. Another factor that makes employees more committed towards attaining the goal is its difficulty level. If the goal is harder and more challenging, employees gain drive and inspiration from it, and show more commitment towards achieving it. Goal Setting Theory

Feedback

The feedback process is crucial to goal setting. At regular intervals, you need to get together with your team and check on their progress. What have they achieved? Are they on the right direction? Did they face any problems? If yes, how did they solve them? Do they need any clarifications or additional resources to complete their goals? These are important questions that need to be answered every now and then. This activity will not only help you see where your team stands, but they will also be able to evaluate their own position. Always want to have a successful life? Kick the LOSER out of your life by getting the Internet #1 Goal Setting Theory  Now!

The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more
important than ever in today’s tough economy.

From the time we’re little kids, we’re taught to solve problems
by trial and error. That’s fine if the problem is as simple as a
burned out light bulb. When the problem is a muddle of business,
technical and political problems, we need something that helps
us untangle the mess. Unless you’re Harry Potter, treating a
mess like a burned out light bulb is as effective as wishing for
magic.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to magic. Many key concepts
in problem solving seem obvious but are often overlooked,
causing delays and frustration in getting important problems
solved. Here are some tips and reminders that will help you
solve messy problems quickly and easily.

** Define the problem first. Explain what the problem
is—what went wrong, what are the symptoms, what is the impact on
your business. Write it down. Everyone who reads it should
understand what the problem is and why it’s important. Caution:
describe the problem, not what you will do to fix it.

** Use your time for problems that are truly important.
Just because a problem is there doesn’t mean you have to solve
it. If you ask, “what will happen if I don’t solve this
problem?” and the answer is, “not much,” then turn your
attention to something more important.

** Test your assumptions about everything. Check the
facts first. Be sure that you and your team understand the
problem the same way, and that you have data to confirm that the
problem is important. Test the assumptions about proposed
solutions to improve the chances your solution will actually
solve the problem.

** Measure. The key question to answer is, “How will you
know when the problem is solved?” If you don’t measure, you
won’t know for sure. Use measurements to learn and portray the
truth—the real truth, not what you wish were true.

** Measure the right things. A common measurement trap is
to measure something because it’s “interesting.” If knowing a
measurement won’t change anything (e.g., help you make a
decision, verify an assumption or prove the problem is solved),
then don’t waste your time measuring it.

copyright 2005. Jeanne Sawyer. All Rights Reserved

Each and every one of us has experienced stress. There are many different types of stress that an individual can experience – even good stress – however, this little “six letter word” is often viewed in a negative light. Practically any and every single thing that we experience in life can be viewed as stressful. Seeing that stress can induce many negative physiological responses in the body, it is essential that we learn methods to effectively manage it. In this article, you will learn some effective stress management techniques that you can experiment with in just five minutes daily!

We are all familiar with the concept of routine. Many times, we speak of the fact that life is unpredictable. However, when we really think about it, there is some form of routine when it comes to our lives. We usually wake up and follow a certain pattern when it comes to preparing for our day. When employing the use of stress management techniques, it is important to ensure that we make them part of our everyday life. We must make sure that these techniques are just as routine as brushing our teeth and showering.

The first effective stress management technique that you can use on a daily basis is the ability to manage your time as appropriate. If you are able to carefully outline your day in such a way that allows you to work, spend time with your family, handle your basic responsibilities, visit with friends, and take time for yourself, you will start to experience less stress on a daily basis. Managing your time will help you to spend more time with those that you love, increase your productivity, and ultimately increase your performance in all areas of your life.

There are many ways that you make the best use of your time. The following outlines some valuable techniques that you can use for time management purposes:

- The first thing that you should do when delegating your time is to set some time to the side for yourself.

- If you are having a difficult time delegating your time appropriately, you should create a time-tracking system that will accurately reflect exactly how you are spending your hours each day.

- You should prioritize the things that you need to do each day based on the important to the least important. By doing this, you can ensure that everything is being completed as it should be.

- You may benefit from using time management tools, like a planner or computer software.

- It is important that you keep a careful eye on your commitments and that you learn to say “no” if it becomes necessary.

- Remember, ultimately, your time is your own and you should treat it as one of your most valuable assets.

The next thing that you should do in order to effectively manage stress is to make sure that your lifestyle reflects activities and things that are not stressful. It is important to achieve some sort of balance in your life. You should be able to appropriately define your goals and purpose in life. If you are unsure of what this is, create goals and purpose! It is also important to ensure that you are consuming foods that are healthy, getting the right amount of exercise, and are sleeping well. All of these methods will help you to manage and alleviate stress that you may encounter.

Each and every single one of us benefit in numerous ways by having the support of our friends and family members. It is important that we each have a well-rounded group of people that we can lean on, and learn from. Every person has a basic need to feel valued and loved. If each of us has this, then we can effectively manage the stress that we experience in our lives. Just remember to nurture these important relationships and they will continue to nurture us.

Many individuals experience higher levels of stress than other individuals in similar situations. This is often a result of how one perceives an issue. The thoughts that we have has a huge impact on how we view the world, and the things that we experience. If we learn to look at every single thing in a positive way, and we adjust our lives accordingly, we are much less likely to be hindered by the complications of stress.