March 2, 2020 | by David March.
There are a lot of systems people have developed for setting goals. One of the most common is the S.M.A.R.T goal-setting system (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-oriented). Although this system works very well, Through my research I found a better system to achieve your career goals. This one is created by a Harvard – Trained Success Scientist It works much better. It uses a more advanced goal setting system, because it hits on key points that the SMART system doesn’t touch on. For example, Inspiration and Approach. The goal setting system is called S.C.A.M.P.I.
SCAMPI = Specific, Challenging, Approach, Measurable, Proximal, Inspirational
This system of goal setting is effective for three main reasons:
1) Direction.
2) Motivation.
3) Strategy refinement.
Each one of the six “SCAMPI” principles makes at least one of those three reasons more prevalent.
S is for Specific. This means ambiguity-reduction, breaking down any vague task, to eliminate wiggle-room. include specific work-based descriptions instead of vague terminology, the more specific the better. Instead of “other leaders” – the leaders names.
C is for Challenging. The goal must be difficult yet attainable. You must find out what you know you can do then seek to stretch yourself further. One only gets stronger when challenged. Just like when you work out in a gym, you need to increase the weight resistance to grow bigger muscles.
A is for Approach. This may be simple, but it is profound. Focus on what you want, not avoiding what you don’t want. Here’s an example: When speaking about relationships, I hear a lot of people talk about what they don’t want. They say, “Well, I don’t want a guy that has this quality, or that quality, and oh, he can’t like dogs, because I don’t like dogs.” What you’re really doing here is making up avoidance goals—you are avoiding certain characteristics in the person you’re looking for. The approach and the focus should be on what you want. In driving a golf club, where do you want the ball to go? When driving a car you look at where you want to go, not at the trees passing beside you, unless you want to slam into one of those trees (not advised)!
Three more goal setting principles
M is for Measurable. Set up milestones to provide clear, measurable progress. This can be done through a series of little victories that build up like a snowball going downhill, giving you the momentum to achieve more. It’s also a great time to celebrate, as a previous win will turn into one more, and another, and another. This enables you to feel as if you have made degrees of success, so that each day is not a pure success or pure failure. Every day is a victory when the measure of the day is shown by its varying degrees. Just one little victory is the spirit of breaking out of that rut and making it a very productive day.
The idea here can be applied to any ambition. Let’s say you have a goal of writing a 200-page novel. Some days you write one page and other days you write 10 pages. Each day you write is a victory and the varying degrees are the number of pages written. You can set the acceptable minimum at five pages a week, 20 pages a month, and over the course of 10 months you will have completed your 200 page novel. It is important to set up measurable, weekly steps so you can see and feel your progress.
P is for Proximal. You have to have a deadline. As the deadline looms, you think more about the goal. Actually, some experience the most productivity time in those last two weeks before the deadline. Research suggests that it’s best to be a general planner; general planners enjoy the process of planning more than highly specific planners, because they gain a sense of designing their lives. In some cases, the person’s life might be controlled by appointments, which can be potentially draining. The best way to plan is weekly, maybe for some, even monthly. The frequency depends on the volume of work and your deadlines. It also depends on what kind of person you are. Know yourself.
I is for Inspirational. The most inspirational goals are those that are self-initiated and consistent with your ideals and ambitions for your future. It has to be important to you and something that you actually want to achieve.
If not, then where’s the motivation? From the outside? From someone or something outside yourself? If so, then this is extrinsic motivation. You should always strive to have intrinsic motivation. You can read more about this topic here.
Intrinsic Motivation is important for goal setting
If you are fulfilling someone else’s vision for a career or business this is not so inspiring, unless their dreams and visions for your future are consistent with your own. Finally, not all tasks are fun yet they need to be done, in this case, the motivation comes from seeing the big picture since this challenge is a result of being short-sighted. I would suggest finding a way to frame in your mind doing the undesirable tasks that lead up to getting the big picture’s central goal done.
Lastly, be wary of making goals when in a negative mood as my research finds:
When in negative moods, people set unrealistically high goals because they are focused on how well they would have to perform to make themselves feel better. Needing to achieve a lot to feel happy, they set overly ambitious goals.
Goals should be made in a positive frame of mind. Anything less than that will lead to mediocre levels of success and unattainable goals. A positive mood is a requirement.
The SCAMPI systems, together with the creation of a mind-map, form the basis of the strategic plan of action that can be used to help you achieve your goals and dreams!
Find more information on this check out my book – Vision In Action or see it in action when you schedule your free discovery call here.
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