Decision Making and Choices GOAL SETTING

Goal Setting  A Goal is:  The purpose toward which efforts are directed.  Goals help one to strive to achieve something.  Goals may present challenges.  The most important purposes of goal setting are that goals:  Guide and direct behavior  Provide clarity  Provide challenges and standards  Reflects what is considered important  Helps to improve performance  Increase the motivation to achieve  Improves self confidence and helps decrease a negative atiittude.

Goal Setting Model  There are several types of goal setting models to use when setting goals. We will review the SMART guidelines to help set effective goals.  S – Specific  M – Measureable  A – Action Oriented  R – Realistic  T - Timely

SMART Goals

Goal Setting  Short Term Goals  These are goals that you will achieve in the near future (in a day, within a week, or possibly within a few months).  Long term Goals  These are goals that you will achieve over a longer period of time (one semester, one year, five years, or twenty years).

The “8 Step Decision Making Model”  When making decisions it is important to acknowledge the responsibilities that go along with the decision making process.  Eight Steps in Making a Decision include:  State the problem  Gather information about the problem  List pros and cons of the problem  Develop alternatives  Analyze Solutions  Select an Alternative  Implement the alternative  Evaluate end results of decision made

3 Types of Decision Making Styles  Inactive, Reactive and Proactive  An inactive decision maker is someone who fails to make choices  A reactive decision maker is someone who allows peers, siblings, parents to make the decision for them.  A proactive decision maker is someone who follows the 8 steps of decision making and assumes responsibility for the consequences.