When I taught high school, I worked with 150 students over 180 days; nothing I’ve experienced since then approximates the pressure and the positive feelings of that time.
As a result, I’m better at helping people set and achieve different kinds of goals. My experience as a teacher made me work toward goals as destinations. Now, as a coach and workflow-process consultant, I also work toward targets that are process based: the ways to go about realizing outcomes.
If you’d like to explore the differences— both in life and at work—journal your responses to questions such as: “What am I working on? What am I working toward? What am I working for?” These questions help identify which goals have finish lines and which ones are ongoing.
A “destination” goal is something you’ll submit, finalize, sign off on, or move on from. It might be a report you’ll present at the end of the month, for example.
When you set a “process” goal, you must decide how you’ll go about achieving your outcomes. Here’s an example: “Decide and promote how to ask for help as you need it.” When everyone on your team knows—and agrees to—how to ask for help, you’ll save time and energy throughout the process.
Now open your journal and identify the two kinds of goals you can set today. And be sure to ask for help along the way!
