Tips for Achieving Goals Blog by Susanne Nickel
Setting new goals and venturing down unknown paths demands a lot from you. The unfamiliar challenges us. Depending on the size of your goal, you will need to step out of your comfort zone, your safety zone, to achieve it. In such situations, it is helpful to know where our strengths and weaknesses lie. Our strengths can support us and provide energy when things get tough. And when we know what weakens us, we can adjust accordingly to avoid losing too much energy and refuel.
Every person has strengths and weaknesses. They can vary in their intensity, just as we humans do. The more aware you are of your strengths and weaknesses, the better you can overcome the challenges on the way to your goal. Below, I present to you a few tools that can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. One of them is the so-called four-dimensional force field analysis.
Conduct Your Own Four-Dimensional Force Field Analysis A force field is a field that contains forces that either drive and support your goal or act as barriers hindering the achievement of the goal. Analyze your own force field: What forces are at play for you? What strengthens you; what is a source of strength for you? What weakens you and drains your energy? Helpful questions for your force field analysis may include:| Force Field Analysis | |
| My Strengths | My Sources of Strength |
| § Where am I strong and powerful? § What am I good at? § What comes easily to me? § What strengths do others see in me, e.g., friends, family members, colleagues? | § What gives me strength? § How can I recharge? § What gives me energy? § What quickly lifts my spirits? |
| My Weaknesses | My Energy Drainers |
| § What am I not good at? § What requires a lot of effort from me? § What do I struggle with? § What is very difficult for me? | § What drains my energy? § What exhausts me? § What consumes a lot of my energy? § What quickly lowers my spirits? |
During your force field analysis, you also identified weaknesses. Every person has weaknesses. However, it is often a matter of perspective whether a weakness truly contains only something negative or also harbors something positive. And that is precisely what sets successful people apart from unsuccessful ones: they can find something good in every difficult situation, problem, or weakness.
Perceived Weakness: Impatience. Possible Strengths within: Wanting to progress. Wanting to make a difference. Perceived Weakness: Difficulty showing emotions. Possible Strength within: Manage my energy well and thoughtfully. Perceived Weakness: Stubbornness. Possible Strength within: Can assert my opinion well and also say no.Try to change your perspective and consider what strength could lie in a weakness you have identified. Perhaps this perceived weakness can even help you achieve your goals? If you find this reflection challenging, it's best to ask a person close to you.
For more tips, you can find in the book by Susanne Nickel "Achieving Goals. From Vision to Reality," published by Haufe Verlag.
