How to Set Goals Aligned with Values and Purpose

Step 1: Identifying Your Values

A goal is only meaningful if it is aligned with your values. Before you can set goals for yourself, it is important to first identify your core values. Values serve as a reflection of who you are and what is most important to you and all decisions you will make in life should be guided by your values.

In order to identify your values, consider what truly matters to you. Think about the things you would fight for, the principles you won’t violate, and the dream you are striving towards. Ask yourself questions such as, “What would I do if I had no fear?” and “What does living an authentic life mean to me?” Clarifying your values is fundamental to setting meaningful and impactful goals.

Step 2: Creating Your Purpose Statement

Your purpose statement is the foundation for your personal mission and outlining it will help you focus on what you are trying to accomplish. It is important to remember that a goal may come and go, but your purpose statement is you personal mantra and should be revisited often.

Think deeply about what gets you excited and energized and identify five words that sum up your core passions and purpose. Use these core words to create a personal mission statement and review it regularly to make sure you are staying on track. Being mindful of your purpose is the key to creating goals that align with your values.

Step 3: Establishing Your Goals

Now that you have identified your core values and created a purpose statement, it is time to create your goals. Make sure you are setting SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Your goals should be focused on tangible outcomes that you can track and measure. Consider making a timeline for each goal and devise a plan of action to ensure you are on track.

When establishing goals, think about how the goal fits with your values and what aligned actions you can take to get you closer to that goal. When setting a goal, it is important to keep your values in mind to ensure that you are always making decisions that align with your core beliefs.

Step 4: Making Sure Your Goals Stay Aligned

Now that you have established goals to align with your values, you must make sure they stay aligned. Revisit your purpose statement and values frequently to make sure your goals are goal aligned and will help you achieve your mission. It is easy to slip off track and give up on a goal, so it is important to track your progress and hold yourself accountable.

If you find that your goals are no longer in alignment with your values, take a step back and reevaluate your purpose statement and what it is that you are trying to achieve. Every goal is valid, but be sure keep in mind that it is more important to set meaningful, aligned with your values, than it is to reach your goal.

Next Steps

Now that you have established goals that align with your values, you will need to take action. Here are a few guidelines for taking action and furthering your understanding:

• Write down your values, purpose statement, and goals and post them in places you will see often to keep them top of mind.
• Check-in with yourself regularly to ensure your goals are still aligned with your values.
• Update or change your goals if necessary to keep them aligned and relevant.
• Take incremental steps and break down big goals into smaller, more achievable ones.
• Seek help and support from a coach, mentor, or friend when needed.
• Use tools such as calendars or apps to track your progress and motivate yourself.

Resources

• Keirsey Temperament Sorter
• SMART Goals: How to Make Your Goals Achievable
• Goal Setting in Positive Psychology: Theory and Application

What are the benefits of setting goals that align with your values and purpose?

1. Aligned goals can help you stay focused on what is important to you. You are less likely to become sidetracked by momentary urges or distractions and can keep your attention directed towards making progress towards a meaningful goal.

2. Goals that align with your values and purpose can help you to stay motivated when difficulty arises. Since you are passionate about the overall outcome and invested in its completion, you are more likely to persist in the face of any challenge.

3. Creating goals that align with your values and purpose can help to reinforce an overall sense of life satisfaction and personal fulfillment. You can also take pride in accomplishments that connect back to one of your core values.

4. Setting goals that contribute to your purpose can enhance feelings of productivity and efficiency, since you are dedicating time and energy in a meaningful and purposeful way.

This can also lead to an overall sense of accomplishment and joy.

What are the consequences of setting goals that are not aligned to your values and purpose?

Setting goals that are not aligned with your values and purpose can create inner conflict and lead to feelings of emptiness, confusion, and frustration. It can lead to a sense of not living a meaningful life, as well as feeling out of touch with who you really are and what is most important to you. In some cases, it can even lead to a breakdown of relationships with friends and family, and a feeling of not belonging. Furthermore, pursuing goals that are not aligned with your values and purpose can result in long-term unhappiness, stress, and feelings of inadequacy and lack of purpose.

What happens if you set goals that don’t align with your values?

If you set goals that don’t align with your values, you are likely to experience feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration leading up to, and potentially after, achieving those goals. Setting goals that go against your values can make you feel like you’re living a life that is not true to you. Additionally, achieving the goals may fail to bring you the satisfaction you expected.

This can lead to a sense of emptiness and depression as you realize that the goals you’re pursuing are not actually fulfilling and meaningful to you.

What are the consequences of setting goals that don’t align with your values?

The consequences of setting goals that don’t align with your values can be many. If your goals don’t align with your values, you may find the motivation to reach them hard to come by, ultimately leading to a lack of progress and, likely, a feeling of dissatisfaction. Additionally, if your goals are not connected to your values, you may struggle to identify a meaningful ‘why’ to guide your decision-making process. Without clarity on this, your decision-making could be hindered, leading to confusion and frustration. Finally, it is likely that you will not be able to fully embrace the results of any goals reached, as they will not truly reflect what is important to you.

What happens when goals and values are misaligned?

When goals and values are misaligned, individuals may become frustrated, have lower morale, and be more prone to making mistakes. This can lead to a lack of focus, energy, and motivation, as well as reduced levels of productivity, collaboration, and innovation. Ultimately, when goals and values are not properly aligned, an organization runs the risk of an ineffective and inefficient workplace.

What are the consequences of misaligned goals and values?

Misaligned goals and values can lead to a lack of efficiency, a decrease in morale, and a lack of trust among team members and team leaders. When goals and values are not properly aligned, it can create confusion, frustration, and a sense of disconnection on the team. This can lead to missed deadlines, reduced productivity, and a decrease in job satisfaction. Additionally, it can foster an environment of unhealthy competition and an inability for the team to effectively problem-solve and reach desired outcomes.

What are some examples of misaligned goals and values?

1. Offering high pay but long hours to attract talent

2. Encouraging staff to take risks in order to innovate but not providing adequate resources or support

3. Introducing an unlimited vacation policy but providing no support for burnout prevention

4. Encouraging employees to be transparent but penalizing them for speaking too candidly

5. Promoting a family-focused culture but implementing an unrealistic work-life balance policy

6. Creating an innovative work environment but providing no space for employees to share ideas and collaborate.

What is the difference between misaligned goals and misaligned values?

Misaligned goals refer to objectives that are not in accordance with the overall mission of the organization. Misdirected goals are counterproductive and can lead to stagnation or even failure. Misdirected values, on the other hand, refer to a company’s core beliefs that are not in line with its mission or the larger community’s values. A company’s values should be consistent with its mission and driven by its commitment to excellence. They should reflect the company’s commitment to ethical behavior, fairness, and respect for people. If a company’s values are misdirected, it can negatively affect the performance and effectiveness of the organization.

What are some examples of misaligned goals and misaligned values?

Misaligned Goals:

A company hiring an inexperienced manager for a high-level executive role.

Misaligned Values:

A company who values customer service but allows multiple customer complaints to go unresolved without taking action.

A company that touts its commitment to workplace diversity and yet has no measures in place to ensure a diverse workforce.

What factors can contribute to misalignment between goals and values?

1. Lack of Clarification: Goals and values should be expressed clearly in every degree of an organization from entry-level staff to top executives in order to be accurately understood. Without proper clarification, different people may have different interpretations of the goals and values, leading to misalignment.

2. Poor Communication: Communication is key for keeping goals and values aligned. If stakeholders are not informed about desired objectives in detail or are not given regular updates about current progress, they may inadvertently develop different values or goals which are out of sync with the intended.

3. Prioritization Issues: Sometimes, organizations focus too much on short-term goals and objectives and fail to prioritize long-term values, leading to misalignment between the two.

4. Culture Clash: When new stakeholders enter an organization and are not aware of the goals and values, they may unknowingly act in ways that do not reflect the organization’s desired objectives. This clash of cultures can quickly lead to misalignment between goals and values.