Backing Into Your Goal

I read about this method of goal setting on the Internet recently. I liked its simplicity and fresh approach to looking at goal setting. It’s called backward planning or backward goal-setting. You begin with the end goal in mind, and work backward from there to develop your plan. By starting at the end, you prepare yourself for success, identify the specific milestones you need to reach, and create a plan to achieve the desired results.

It works like this:

Write down your goal. Be very clear about what you want to achieve and when.

Then ask yourself what you need to accomplish just before that, in order to achieve your goal.

For example: “By September 30, 2009, I will complete the executive coaching program at Coach University.”

Then work backward even further. What needs to be done just before the step you’ve just outlined?

“By May 1, 2008, I will apply for the coaching program.”

Take another step back. What do you need to do to make sure that goal is reached?

Continue to work back until you identify the first step you need to accomplish.

When you look at a backward goal plan, it won’t look too different from traditional goal setting. It’s creating the plan that requires a different mind set, a different perspective. That helps you to see things you could possibly overlook when doing things chronologically.

Back planning can also help keep you from wasting time on irrelevant activities and tasks that don’t contribute to the “bottom line.”