Goal Setting Template

I’m sure there are better, more sophisticated goal setting templates, but this is what I use now and I would encourage you to start with something along these lines. I know my first effort at creating a goal action plan went a bit overboard, and eventually I came back to this – something simple but effective.

Just to be clear, what we put into a plan IS important, because it should reflect a strategy that will produce the outcome we want. But the form or format we use isn’t all that important in my opinion, as long as includes the essential elements. Style over substance won’t take you very far, at least not with this.

Action Plan example

More important is that you get something for a goal plan written down that includes the following key elements, and start executing it.

Those key goal plan elements are:

1. A clear, written goal description (see SMART goals)
2. The START date: When you did start, or when you plan to
3. The FINISH date: When you intend to complete all milestones and tasks
4. MILESTONES to mark the major accomplishments along the way
5. The specific, detailed TASKS that must be performed to reach each milestone
6. The DUE DATE for each task!
7. Some way to track events that may impact the plan and require changes as you proceed

Common sense will tell you that a plan is not always executed in sequence, i.e. sometimes you are doing multiple tasks at the same time. The point is to know what you need to do next, and when you’ve promised yourself you will finish it.

Goal Project Plan – Template (xls 2003)

I hope this goal setting template helps you get some form of a written plan you can refer to often, and follow.