Knowledge Base

TruQu makes it possible to set personal goals. What do you want to work on or accomplish, and what would you like to receive feedback on? In general, setting goals motivates us and directs our behaviour and energy towards the desired behaviour. But, which goals are right for you? Below you will find some tips to help you set the goals which are right for you.

• When you set a goal it is important to be specific. What are you going to do? How are you going to reach your goal? In the best case, your goal will be measurable. By making your goal measurable you can see if you’ve achieved it or not;
• A goal should be difficult, yet attainable. A goal that isn’t challenging enough will not give you the desired satisfaction upon completion. At the same time, a goal that is too difficult will lessen your motivation. It is therefore important to establish a realistic goal, one that is sufficiently challenging, yet do-able;
• Finally, it is important to collect feedback on the progress you are making. Without feedback and intermediate results, it is impossible to know when you are on the right track or need to re-adjust your goal. It is an ongoing process!

In general, goals can be divided into two different categories. When you set a development goal, you learn a new competency and you want to improve. When you set a performance goal, you set a goal in order to show that you have a certain skill.  So take a moment to think about why you’re setting a goal when you are formulating it!

• Example of a development goal: I would like to learn how to negotiate more effectively and how to become more persuasive;
• Example of an achievement goal: I would like to get the best deal of this quarter.

Eventually development goals will result in greater achievement than an achievement goal, although it will likely take more time for it to become evident. Look at it as an investment!

By means of the target module it’s possible to quantify achievement goals.  By quantifying the goals it will be easy to see improvements or a decrease in numbers.

Making your goal measurable is possible by adding action points. Thinking about concrete action that will lead to goal completion will make it more specific and will give insight into what steps you need to take in order to reach your goal. An example of an action point to accompany the above stated development goal would be to read a book about negotiation tactics, or to ask for feedback from someone who you have negotiated with in the past.

Be inspired by your organisation

A way to find inspiration for your goals is by looking at the goals your organisation has set for itself as a whole. How does the organisation like to see its employees behave? If your organisation sees being a team-player as an important skill, you could let this inspire you when setting your personal goal. Bear in mind your own motivation when setting your personal goals, as coming up with your own goals has been found more effective in comparison with goals that are set for you by someone else. The goal module provides further inspiration for goals that could help you with your personal development.