"Know your goal, and begin with the goal in mind". These are some of the most important words shared ever shared with me.
In order to know our goal, let's talk about what a goal is. A goal is generally defined as; "an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieving."
In simpler terms, a goal is our expected outcome for whatever we are doing or trying to do.
Having a goal is important, and each goal we create has its own level of importance, difficulty, and complexity. However, knowing our goal and beginning with the goal in mind helps us to address this, it also;
Defines our process in how we achieve the goal
Allows planning for and the anticipating of any challenges along the way
Provides motivation to overcome obstacles and meet the goal
Creates a sense of accomplishment when the goal is completed
There are different types of goals that range from personal to professional, and everything in between. As learning professionals, it is important that we know what the goal (learning outcome) is, and that we start with that in mind. Knowing our goal (learning outcome), and starting with the goal in mind shapes the way we design and develop learning material by decided the most effective methodology and practice for the learning. It will also impact our instructional delivery as we stand in front of the learners, or speak to them through our computer screens.
At the end of the day, our goal should be to meet our expected learning outcome, and ensure that our learners received what they needed not only from the training but our time together. The impact of knowing your goal, and beginning with your goal in mind makes the learning more efficient, increases your value and credibility, and most importantly improves the ROI of your learner. Beginning with the end goal in mind will guide your entire process, and will ultimately make what you are working on easier to complete. Once you know your goal, everything after that is a hop, a skip, and a jump.
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