HEART Model For Goal Setting

While talking about achieving your goals the most prominent thing you’ll hear is to be determined, take the first step, and make your goals SMART. Smart word here isn’t used literally but as an abbreviation for the model used for goal setting .

The new innovative approach that I applied to myself a few weeks ago, however, is a little different and more fulfilling. The model that I am talking about is the HEART model for goal setting.

Why HEART you ask? Because something that comes from your heart and has your emotions attached is always more powerful than something that comes from your mind.

HEART model for goal setting in coaching

The HEART model for goal setting is closer to you emotionally and has extra motivation and impact when you move forward to achieve it. Even when things do not work out the way you want them to and even when you are not getting desired results, you are bound to try harder for things that are closer to your heart, in comparison to things that your mind is telling you to achieve.

This is what the H.E.A.R.T. model for goal setting stands for :

H stands for Honest :

So the first thing that you should ask yourself is whether your goals are honest towards your life vision, mission and purpose. Are they consistent with your ambitions and aspirations? If your life mission is extremely humanitarian and you set up a capitalistic goal for yourself there are chances that you would quit as soon as you start facing obstacles. Capitalistic goals would not provide enough fuel for you to keep going in the downtime.

E stands for Exact :

This is what you exactly want and what exactly would you need to achieve these goals. Determine the resources and skills required. Break down your goals into smaller chunks and prepare to achieve one at a time. So if you have a yearly goal, break it down into monthly and weekly goals. Make your statements exact. A wise man once said ‘ If I was given 7 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend 6 hours sharpening my axe’. So, prepare well.

A stands for Action:

A goal without a plan is just wishful thinking and words without actions mean nothing. To achieve your goals, in the exact center of the heart model is- Action. To take action for your goals it is important that you ask yourself the right questions. Questions like = ‘ What is the one small step that I can take today?’ The hardest part is actually not solving a problem but asking the right questions that can lead you to solve the problem.

R stands for Realistic:

As I said before, a goal without a plan is just wishful thinking. So in order to make a plan to achieve your dreams you need to consider the realities around them. What are the possible obstacles that might come in your way? Do you have the time and energy to give into this goal? What are your other obligations? How much are you willing to give for this dream of yours?

T stands for Time-Bound:

And yes, your goal needs to have a deadline. No, it’s not that you cannot achieve a goal after the deadline, but plans with a deadline are more effective in general. So set time for each step you take and mark your achievement with each step crossed. This will also give you the motivation to keep moving forward.

The most important thing is that you need to celebrate and reward yourself for even the smallest of your achievements and for every step you take toward your goals.