In The Zone

Setting Effective Goals

Goal-setting is one of the easiest and most effective Performance Psychology techniques to use. In order to be useful, however, goals need to be clear, specific, and attainable. Effective goals are interesting and attractive, and also within the realm of possibility. For example, it doesn’t make sense for you or me to have as a goal to dunk a basketball over the top of Shaquille O’Neal! Sorry Jack, that just ain’t gonna happen! Also, for goals to work you need a way to determine whether or not you have accomplished them. At the very least, you need a way to tell if you’re getting close! Let me give you some examples of effective and ineffective goals.

Effective Goals

• Make the top five of my bass club this year. This goal is clear and specific. You decide if it’s attainable or not.
• Improve my strike-to-land ratio from 5 to 2 to at least 5 to 3. Once again, clear, specific, and probably attainable.
• Finish in the money in more than half of my Wednesday night tournaments. Clear and reasonably specific; attainable?
• Do well enough in 2007 tournaments to move to the next level in 2008. Moderately clear and specific; perhaps attainable.

Ineffective Goals

• Do better than last year in my club. It's clear if you actually remember where you finished last year, and probably attainable, though not very specific. How much better do you want to be?
• Catch more fish than my buddy Joe in every tournament. Not particularly clear or specific. How many more? And what if Joe has a fabulous year?
• Try harder in practice. Probably attainable, but not at all clear or precise. What does “try harder” mean? How much harder, and for how long?
• Catch more fish every trip. How would you know if you attained this goal? Do you really know what you caught every trip last year?

If you’re not sure how to set effective goals, call up a sport psychologist and ask for advice. You could also look in the self-help section of a public library or your local bookstore and find a book on goal-setting. Better yet, purchase a copy of "The Psychology of Exceptional Fishing" from the bassedge.com and use the suggestions you find there for setting effective goals.

Studies show that goal-setting helps focus your attention and it keeps you moving in a positive direction. Goals also tend to boost your energy and enthusiasm. You need to be motivated to pursue your goals, though having goals helps get you motivated! It’s a cyclical process that can work in your favor once you get the ball rolling.

Long-Range, Short-Term And Immediate Goals

To be most effective, you need three different kinds of goals: long-range, short-term, and immediate. Long-range goals are your dreams, your hopes for the future. Make these clear and specific, though don’t worry too much about whether your long range goals are realistically attainable. Especially in the world of fishing, don’t limit your long-range dreams.

Let’s say your long-range goal is to be the best angler in your club in three years or less. Okay, now you need to be realistic about the gap between where you are currently and where you want to be. You also have to create short-term goals in order to make your long-term goals happen. For the short-term, you may set a goal to increase your place in the club standings by five places in each of the next three years. You may also need short-term goals related to skill development, including things like upgrading your equipment, learning better summer techniques, or improving your strike-to-land ratio.

You also will want immediate goals, things you can do today, tomorrow, and next week that will help you accomplish your short-term objectives. Immediate goals can be simple like getting new information from a fishing web site like Bass Edge, or putting extra time into sorting and cataloging your terminal tackle.

Remember, to get the most out of goal-setting, long-range, short-term, and immediate goals are all necessary.

Assess And Revise

Not all your goals will work perfectly the first time you create them. Therefore, find 20 minutes once a month to review your long-range, short-term and immediate goals. First check to see if they are still in line with what you actually want to accomplish. If not, change them!

Secondly, see if your immediate goals are helping you realize your short-term objectives, and notice if your short-term goals are moving you closer to your long-range dreams. People who are good at using goals frequently modify or upgrade their immediate and short-term objectives. You should to.

Keep in mind that the most effective goals are clear, specific, attainable, and measurable. If you create goals like this for yourself, you will become a better angler!

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Jay T. McNamara Ph.D., L.P. is a psychologist, and also an avid bass and walleye angler. With more than 30 years of professional experience complemented by participation in competitive fishing at local and national levels, he is uniquely qualified illustrate how Performance Psychology principles apply to fishing. His writing has appeared in both recreational and competitive fishing journals.