Goal Analysis: How to Clarify Your Goals So You Can Actually Achieve Them

Goal setting is a normal part of everyday life. In many vocational settings employees must be concerned with performance measures such as productivity output, customer satisfaction, sales levels and safety standards. Many individuals set personal goals, especially this time of the year, in the areas of education, health issues, and other life-style habits. However, just because a goal or objective has been established does not guarantee the goal will be achieved. In many instances the failure of achieving a goal is directly related to the lack of clarity or definition of both the goal and the performance needed to accomplish the goal. In Goal Analysis, Robert Mager provides a very helpful, concise, step by step plan for making clear, measurable goals that can be achieved in any area of life. The major strength of the book lies in its simplicity in both language and process. Mager provides a five step process of goal analysis. Step one begins the process by simply writing down the goal in outcome terms. The author's instruction to use whatever words that are comfortable, regardless of how fuzzy or vague they may be is very helpful. I agree that this is the best way to begin the process. Stating goals in words or statements that make you feel good will encourage you to continue the process. In addition, when working with others in a goal analysis people can almost always agree with each other on the importance of vaguely stated goals or intentions. Step two, which I believe is the most beneficial of the five steps, involves writing down the performances that would cause you to agree that the goal had been achieved, without regard for duplication or "fuzziness." It is within the discussion of this step that the author provides helpful strategies for describing the meaning of the goal. Effective questions include: "What will I take as evidence that my goal has been achieved?" "Given a room full of people, what is the basis on which I would separate them into two piles - those who had achieved my goal and those who had not?" "How will the person know a goal achiever when he or she sees one?" Each of these questions helps to focus needed attention on how to recognize that a goal has been accomplished. Step three involves sorting out the list created in step two by deleting duplications and eliminating those that on second thought are unwanted. This step is an obvious, yet very necessary part of the process. Taking the goals that have been loosely stated thus far and writing them in complete sentences is the focus of step four. These statements should now tell what is expected to be done, and they should also describe how well people are expected to do them. With these complete sentences in hand, it should be possible for a manager or supervisor to determine who has the skills to perform each of the items listed and to decide what action to take in those instances where the skill to perform properly is lacking. The final step involves testing the

A journey of a thousand mile begins with a single step. Certainly this is true. However, a journey can only have length when you know where you are going and when you have arrived. Setting goals is the subject addressed by Dr. Mager in this book. In fact, the book is about setting attainable goals. People can make lofty statements that sound very much like goals - statements that impress but are often impossible to measure. Instruction may be one of several areas to consider when trying to achieve a measurable goal. Dr. Mager provides a prescription for identifying measurable goals and considering all the factors that influence the attainment of a goal. He also provides a set of strategies for finalizing attainable goals. If you suffer from the "fuzzies" and are unsure if your training is achieving results, this is the book to guide you to valid and effective goal-oriented solutions.

As Corporate Trainer I am looking for material to assist us in developing and writing specific, technical material for our employees. Mager puts things into clear perspective using simple language that can be understood by all. After reading the material I was able to make an immediate and direct application of the process. The reading is fun and educational at the same time. Learning has never been easier. My goal was acheived!.

What? No one has done a review on this classic!Wow, a book that you can actually apply. So many theory related books out there deny us of what we really need to know - The how to part.Of course, Robert Mager is a legend in this field and this book lends credence to his knowledge, expertise and years of experience.This book will walk you through the steps of how to identify a fuzzy, make it a goal and then apply the techniques to demonstrate achievement.This book covers the five critical steps for conducting a Goal Analysis in complete detail with plenty of examples and exercises.Even if you are not in this field, you could read this book and apply it to your own life so you can change from a wandering generality to a meaningful specific!