Backward Goal-Setting

Using Backward Planning to Set Goals


Another way to hit your target.

© iStockphoto

If your goal is to become an account director within the next five years, where do you start your planning process? Or if your team needs to redesign the company's organizational structure, where do you begin?

In planning, most of us would usually start building our plan from start to finish. What do you have to do first, second, third, and so on? And by what date does each step need to be completed?

This is a solid form of Personal Goal Setting that works very well. When combined with the Golden Rules of Goal Setting, you have a motivating formula that can help you actively move yourself forward.

A New Approach

However, there's another simple but lesser-used method of goal setting that can be equally as powerful.

It's called backward planning, backward goal-setting, or backward design, and it's used quite often in education and training. The idea is...

... for the complete article:

Mind Tools members, click here.

Join the Mind Tools Club to finish this article AND get 1,000 more resources

Join now for just $1, first month

"When I started using Mind Tools, I was not in a supervisory position. Now I am. Along with that came a 12% increase in salary."
– Pat Degan, Houston, USA


Join the Mind Tools Club


The Mind Tools Club gives you much, much more than you get here on the basic Mind Tools site, including these 4 free workbooks!

Get training, help and ideas to boost your career.

Find out what you get

Four great workbooks

Where to go from here:

Next article

Free newsletter

Join Mind Tools

Follow Mind_Tools on Twitter
Facebook

1 Day to Go!
Get Our Future-Proof Your Career Workbook FREE


Join the Mind Tools Club before midnight, May 9th, and get our Future-Proof Your Career workbook (worth US$19.99) for FREE.

Join for just US$1

Get the Free
Mind Tools App


Mind Tools Apps

Learn on the move with the free Mind Tools iPhone, iPad and Android Apps. Short bursts of business training ideal for busy people.

Get the Mind Tools App

What Bugs You?


  • Let us know about anything wrong, or anything you don't like about this site, and you could win a US$50 Amazon voucher!

Click here

Sponsored Links