Executive Function (EF) coaching is multidimensional. A professional coach will offer support and guidance tailored to your needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling to manage your job responsibilities or conquer procrastination, EF coaching can be a powerful resource. EF coaching has many aspects, and one of the most vital is goal setting. Having concrete goals can be a strong motivator. Research shows that activities and games promote the development of EF and self-regulation skills in children. This may be due in part to the goal-oriented nature of games. When a child is trying to do well at a game, they're motivated to hone the skills they need to succeed. The same is true for adults, and the benefits of having clear goals aren’t limited to games. Learning more about the value of goal setting can help you understand why it’s a core aspect of EF coaching.
5 key reasons why goal setting is an integral part of EF coaching
- Provides direction — When working toward improvement, it’s important to have direction. Setting clear, actionable goals can provide this direction. Without clear goals, you may feel lost or overwhelmed. Nebulous goals such as “become more efficient at work” tend to not be very helpful. They don’t provide a clear path forward, and they can be discouraging when you don’t meet them. Working with your EF coach, you can come up with goals that provide a stronger sense of direction. For example, your efficiency-related goal might be reducing the time you spend on a certain task by 15% each week. Acting with this particular goal in mind can keep you from feeling overwhelmed and help you stay on track.
- Increases motivation — Have a hard time staying motivated? Setting goals can help. One of the best ways to get a motivation boost is by setting SMART goals. A SMART goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Attainable goals can help you feel motivated while still providing a sense of real accomplishment when they’re completed. A goal that feels too big can be demotivating. If you’re feeling unsure about the attainability of a coaching goal, you can bring the subject to your EF coach. Your coach may help break down the goal further, providing more achievable milestones. This can help create a sense of progress, which can be essential to staying motivated.
- Strengthens time management — EF coaching often focuses on improving time management. Setting clear goals can help you prioritize, enabling you to complete tasks more effectively. Goal setting helps strengthen time management in a few important ways. When you set goals with your EF coach, you may also be encouraged to develop a routine that centers around that goal. If maintaining a consistent routine is itself your goal, then your EF coach might work with you to create a schedule and help you adhere to it. Scheduling tasks ahead of time can have a positive impact on your time management. Setting more attainable goals can also improve your time management, as it can lessen procrastination.
- Encourages accountability — Without clear goals, it can be hard to measure success. You may feel no urgency regarding skill development since there is no transparent metric for success or failure. Specific, measurable goals are more concrete. This brings accountability. When you have an objective goal, you may be more likely to take responsibility and follow through with steps to build self-discipline. To maintain accountability, your EF coach will likely check in regularly and ask about your progress.
- Facilitates self-regulation — Self-regulation is essential for thriving independently. Strong self-regulation means having the ability to process thoughts and feelings and then respond to them in healthy ways. You can think of self-regulation as having good willpower. When you work with your EF coach to set goals, you can build opportunities to develop your self-regulation and gain more control over your actions.
Beyond BookSmart can help you set goals and act on them
At Beyond BookSmart, we have Executive Function coaching services, such as virtual coaching for students and WorkSmart Coaching for adult Executive Function coaching. Our services are designed to help improve skills like goal setting, time management, and many more. That way people of all ages have the tools they need to create an effective and workable study routine.
Executive Function skills can be taught, learned and applied for success. Beyond BookSmart services can help you reach your fullest potential by personalizing the coaching to your personal strengths, learning differences, and emotional challenges.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an inquiry call.
.png)
