What are Hard Goals

What are Hard Goals? Plus 3 Tips to Attain Them

Across industries, employees are motivated to set professional goals that help them to excel at what they do and simultaneously benefit the business. Goal setting combined with hard work can make a singular difference in leading an employee's career pathway and professional development. Simply stated, the goals you set for yourself today will drive you to where you need to be at work in the future. However, deciding the most effective goal- setting methodology can be a real uphill battle. This is where we step in. The need of the hour is choosing goals that challenge you and get you out of your comfort zone. One powerful method is HARD Goals, and that’s what we are discussing in this post today.

PCS’s beginner’s guide will explain what HARD Goals are, why they matter, and how to set and achieve them effectively.

Related: 3 Ways to Set Effective Performance Goals for Your Career

Demystifying H.A.R.D. Goals

The concept of Hard goals was originally introduced by Mark Murphy in his book ‘HARD Goals: The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be’ which required employees to push themselves and achieve significant results in their professional journey.

HARD is an acronym that guides goal-setting by designing goals that push you, require grit, and are emotionally challenging. Unlike SMART Goals, these are long-term and may seem like a tough nut to crack at first, but slowly but surely, they allow individuals to bloom and bring out their finest performance at work:

The H stands for HEARTFELT

Understand the intrinsic requirements you seek to fulfil through setting these goals. What motivates you to achieve this goal? Establish goals that are meaningful and have a deeper purpose.

The A stands for ANIMATED

Hard goals should propel you to take action to achieve the desired outcomes. Resort to visualization and imagery like mental rehearsal, vision boards, and sensory engagement which allow you to build mental images of the goals you want to achieve.

The R stands for REQUIRED

For a goal to be required, understand what compels you to achieve it. Envision the driving forces or necessity and make goals centred around prioritizing what's more important for you. This allows you to pursue your goals effectively.

The D stands for DIFFICULT

If a goal is not challenging enough, it will deter you from growing and acquiring new skills. Make goals that push you out of your comfort zone and require strenuous effort and dedication.

Why Hard Goals Matter

Hard goals are the linchpin for personal development. They further:

1. Build Resilience and Determination as one goes through a vicious cycle of successes and failures, cultivating a growth mindset in the individual.

2. Aid in achieving significant milestones because hard goals are created for meaningful and impactful outcomes.

3. Push you beyond limits helping you to step outside your comfort zone and leading to greater success.

How to Set Hard Goals

The goal behind hard goals is to broaden your limits so that you can achieve things that were once beyond possible for you. Here are 4 tips to get you started:

1. Be Precise and Clear

Clarity is key when setting Hard Goals. They should be specific and measurable, and outline what you want and the steps you need to take. It helps employees keep abreast of their progress and is a motivation powerhouse too. A goal if vague will only disrupt your energy and likelihood of success.

2. Make Them Challenging Yet Attainable

The idea behind setting hard goals is to make them quite challenging for you, so that you give your best, work hard and gain skills along the way. Remember that hard goals also should be attainable because unrealistic goals can build frustration, resentment and demotivation towards the ultimate objectives.

3. Align Goals with Your Values and Passions

Hard goals are meant to fulfil your inner aspirations and honour your passions. They must be heartfelt to help you stay committed and motivated throughout your journey.

4. Set Deadlines

This is one important aspect of setting hard goals. Ensure to track your progress regularly and establish realistic deadlines. It helps you to stay focused and on track. Break down bigger goals into smaller and manageable tasks.

How To Attain Hard Goals

Now that we have covered how you can set hard goals, let's understand the next steps:

1. Create a Plan: monitor your progress, however small and make necessary adjustments as required. Rigid plans defeat the purpose of hard goals. Stay flexible when pursuing hard goals because it allows you to adapt to changing dynamics and stay on course.

2. Don’t Give Up: it is a human tendency to give up as soon as we encounter failures. Step out of this fancy and stay true to your goals. Be thoughtful, consistent and dedicated to facing anything and everything that comes your way.

3. Regularly Review and Adjust: monitor your progress, however small and make necessary adjustments as required. Rigid plans defeat the purpose of hard goals. Stay flexible when pursuing hard goals because it allows you to adapt to changing dynamics and stay on course.

What to Do When Challenges Arise

Setbacks will surely arise in your journey. The following tips may help:

Fear of Failure

To cope with this barrier, try to embrace failure as a learning opportunity early on. Understand that failures will help you grow and not bring you down.

Motivation Monotony

It can be highly challenging to stay motivated each day but know that motivation comes from within and from the small things you do. Try setting smaller milestones to celebrate the small wins and remind yourself of the bigger picture that lies ahead of you.

Time Management

As easy as it sounds; it is a dreadful task. Hard goals set you up for challenges alongside the daily responsibilities. Resort to time management techniques by eliminating distractions, prioritizing tasks and sticking to a routine.

Conclusion

A great habit that can stick with you for life is setting goals. By Adopting the Hard Goals approach you can turn setbacks into success and dreams into milestones, so long you stay determined and consistent. If you’re ready to set goals that truly make a difference, make sure they are HEARTFELT, ANIMATED, REQUIRED, AND DIFFICULT.

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