Goal-setting can be overwhelming. The Cs of Great Goal Setting provide a simple but effective strategy for setting a goal of direction, purpose and ownership.

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
The 3 Cs of Great
Goal Setting November 2015
Goal-setting can be overwhelming. The Cs of Great Goal Setting provide a simple
but effective strategy for setting a goal of direction, purpose and ownership.
There's so much out there about goals and goal setting, I'm not
altogether surprised to have received a few requests for a
stripped-down, bare minimum approach. Something easy to
remember, easy to apply - and yet still helps create outstanding
goals.
Here's what I've come-up with: The 3 Cs of Great Goal Setting.
And no surprise to anyone who's read even just a couple of my
posts: I've taken a brain-based approach.
And just for the avoidance of doubt: this process is not intended
just for the "big" goals. My hope is you might apply it to any goal
or objective - even those we might objectively describe as
modest.
So, have a read. And let me know if I've achieved my goal of a
simple, but effective strategy for setting great goals.
#1 CHOOSE your thinking
Our brain has different circuits for different types of thinking.
And those circuits are mutually exclusive: we can only do one
type of thinking at once.
This is why we're always talking about the benefits of mono-
tasking rather than multi-tasking. Our brains haven't yet evolved
the capacity to perform two completely different cognitive
processes simultaneously. And the rapid switching between
circuits (the illusion of multitasking) comes with an associated
cost: in energy to make the switch; and in quality of thought,
where our brains don't quite pick-up where we left off in
recommencing that previous cognitive process. So it's most
efficient to do one type of thinking.
Goal Setting lives in the domain of "Vision Thinking": the top-level
of thinking types. Vision thinking is about direction, purpose and
value. It's not detailed, but broad and emotive. It's about
destination, rather than journey.
So the first step is to put your "vision thinking hat" on and
consciously select vision thinking. There will be plenty of time to
figure-out plans and actions later. Right now is a chance for you
to get really expansive in the thinking about your goal.
#2 CONNECT with the vision
Having consciously told our unconscious mind that it's time for
vision thinking, the next step is to connect deeply with our vision.
When we really connect with our goal and are able to paint a
vivid picture of the outcome in our minds, we're effectively
starting to teach our brain to achieve it. The richness we give to
our goal generates new connections, leads us to keen insights
and gets us highly motivated. All fantastic ingredients to the
process.
So remembering that this is moment is about expansive,
visionary thinking: let's fast-forward to a near-future in which

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
you've achieved your goal; and let's ask ourselves some vision-
connecting questions:
 What's my vision for this area? What do I see as
possible in this area?
 What do I see around me? What do I hear? How do I
feel?
 What has this gotten me? And what else will this
lead to?
 What is most different, now I've achieved my goal?
 What's "The One Big Thing" that tells me I've
achieved my goal?
When you're ready, challenge yourself to pull together the
essence of all your thinking and insight into a single sentence.
Play around with the words - and you'll know when you've
captured your goal statement. It'll "click" with you.
#3 CRITERIA, applied consistently
Checking the well-formedness of your goal is a crucial step in the
process - if you're going to have a reasonable chance of
achieving it. By running our goal through some key criteria
checks, we bring it back into the "real" world.
There are plenty of catchy mnemonics out there for criteria: for
example, SMART (which you'll know), PURE (Positively stated,
Understood, Relevant, Ethical) and CLEAR (Challenging, Legal,
Environmentally-sound*
, Appropriate, Recorded).
*
I prefer "ecologically-sound" in my version of CLEAR goals.
My challenge, however, was to keep this simple. Which is why my
process insists on such diligent vision thinking - because that
ensures we satisfy 90% of our criteria. It's specific, it has a
measure, we have a future timeline and so on.
The only criteria question I think you need from here is:
 When you say your goal sentence, does it create
the vision for you?
If not, let's go back and revisit Step 2 and re-connect with your
vision.
But if and when it does, that tells me you've got an inspiring goal
that you fully connect with. And even if it's not a "big" goal, it has
meaning for you. Well-formedness will naturally flow from there.
And into action
A process on goal-setting wouldn't be complete without a note
on getting into action. So keep it simple and choose a single
small action: to commit to right now; and to action today.
Everything starts with Action #1.
Dan Beverly is a leadership and performance coach helping high-calibre, high-
performing professional women embrace the pivotal career moments.
His mission is to inspire possibility in others: to help us excel in careers without
compromise; and to leave us feeling energised and uplifted by a new future.
Go online to book your complimentary “Session Zero” with Dan – and start
capitalising on your pivotal career moments today.
http://danbeverly.com/session-0