Aim right to achieve success

Daviender Narang

According to neuroscientists, people who can distinctly describe or visualise their goals are more likely to achieve their life’s aspirations than others. If students and adolescents can realise the power of goal setting early on, they would get a head start in their career, personal life, as well as creative pursuit.  

The time and energy invested in setting goals in the formative years of a student are bound to yield results later on. The students who have a clear idea of what they want can attempt even the impossible and realise many of their life dreams.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google grew up in an unpretentious house in Chennai but had a vision of what he wanted in his life. After taking over Google, he simplified the goal setting process in this global conglomerate which enabled employees to stay focused on their mission and get more things done.

What is goal-setting for students?

Goal setting for students involves a set of defined goals and key result areas that measure their efficiency and output within a given time frame. The key goals and result areas created with the help of mentors, teachers and administrators can help students measure their growth over time which in turn facilitates learning and overall personality development.

With goal students can break down otherwise  intimidating aspirations into attainable success. This, in turn, can boost their confidence and help them move ahead in their chosen fields.

Knowing the direction

Teenagers require a sense of direction and tips in self-management to move in the right direction. A list of goals, crafted with the help of teachers or parents, can enhance their self-awareness and give a boost to their confidence. Counselors and teachers can help these young minds to set goals in academics, personal achievements, and even relationships. 

Roadmap for optimal decisions

Measurable, action oriented and specific goals crafted with the help of mentors can help students and adolescents make timely and well-informed decisions under different circumstances. Once you know what she wants and specific ways to get the same, she can then concentrate her energies in converting these aspirations into reality.

Enhancing accountability

Students who have set goals for the long as well as short term are more accountable to get the tasks accomplished within the desired time span. Acting on goals is any day better than acting whimsically; young people with long term goals broken down into shorter ‘plan of actions” are less likely to procrastinate.

A motivational tool

A young person with a set of specified goals has something in writing to get all enthusiastic about. They can then plan each day and do the necessary work on a daily basis to stay on the chartered course.

A technique that works

Goal setting is being used in defense training institutions and military academies to create strong, powerful and empowered cadets who can achieve maximum effectiveness even in extreme environments and climate situations. The young men and women to enter prestigious institutions such as the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, Army Education Corps Training College and Center (AEC)  Pachmarhi, and Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal adhere to disciplined schedules with a goal oriented approach while being trained professionally in state-of-the-art warfare strategies. The life of the officers in defense services can be a source of inspiration to young professionals from other domains as well.

— The writer is Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management