Tasks v Goals

[VictoriaJayne]

Hi

Some advice needed - I have always been task orientated and looked at things as a series of checklists - but lately I have been evolving from this. I do still struggle to see the difference between what constitutes a goal and what is a task.

My initial thought is it all relates to how close to your values and mission statement the 'thing' is - the closer it is the more it will be interpreted as a goal? It feels right but ... I'd love to hear your own interpretation of goals v tasks.

Cheers

VJ

[robertanthony]

Some goals are so compelling that you are drawn towards achieving them ( PULL GOALS ) whereas some goals are so tedious it's as if you have to push yourself towards achieving them ( PUSH GOALS) Being drawn towards achievement is usually easier and faster.

Its easier and faster to achieve your goals when they are aligned to your values since your values are the reasons why you set the goals in the first place.

All About Emotional Intelligence - Training and Tools for Business, Education, Personal Growth, Parenting, and Government

[Derik]

Hi VJ

To me there are goals, strategies and tasks (or actions). Let me use an example:

Let’s assume that your goal is “To clear my debt”. Your strategies might be the following:

1. “Define my current financial status. “

2. “Create a vision of a debt-free life.”

3. “Explore alternative ways to clear my debts. “

4. Etc.

Under each strategy, there are some tasks or actions to be done. If your first strategy is to “define my current financial status”, the tasks or actions could be:

“Go through all my financial statement and identify the exact amount I owe.”

“Identify and write down my current income.”

“Identify how much I can pay each month.”

Once these tasks are done, you move on to the next strategy and identify which tasks you need to do to achieve that.

In my experience most people want to get into action too soon before they have identify their goals or strategies.

In short, if you have clear goals and strategies, your tasks will have more meaning.

You can read more about it here.

I hope this helped.

Keep well

Derik
Sustainable Employee Motivation, Motivating Individuals And Teams

[dannielo]

Originally Posted by VictoriaJayne

Hi

Some advice needed - I have always been task orientated and looked at things as a series of checklists - but lately I have been evolving from this. I do still struggle to see the difference between what constitutes a goal and what is a task.

My initial thought is it all relates to how close to your values and mission statement the 'thing' is - the closer it is the more it will be interpreted as a goal? It feels right but ... I'd love to hear your own interpretation of goals v tasks.

Cheers

VJ

The goal is the thing you want to achieve. It should have a deadine... 1 month, 6 months, 1 year etc.

Then you divide it in smaller goals, or projects.

And these again in tasks, actions that you can directly execute in a day.

Zenhabits blog has today a great article on this.