Goal Tree is a great tool to describe everything necessary to achieve a goal, from topmost objectives called Critical Success Factors (CSFs) to the underlying Necessary Conditions (NCs). All elements of a Goal Tree are linked together by a logical necessary condition relationship (in order to have… we must…), which is a powerful filter to avoid pollution by unrelated topics.
Goal Trees can be used to set personal goals, like for example to build one’s own career path.
The Goal would be stated in a way like “in five years from now, I will be…”
The personal goal could be to get promoted or hired to a top executive position with a peer-recognized expertise in a specific field or track record of achievements.
The following questions may serve to prompt and inspire your imagination:
- What do I want to do?
- What do I want to have?
- Where do I want to go?
- What do I want to learn?
- Who do I want to spend my time with?
- How much do I want to earn?
- How much leisure time do I want to have?
Source: http://coachingpositiveperformance.com/goal-creation-5-helpful-rules/
A handful of Critical Sucess Factors (5 maximum is my advice) will describe the future state more specifically. One would probably be a strong marker of position, like title, status and/or salary, e.g. vice president in charge of… with a yearly income of…
Another CSF could describe the field of responsibility like “domestic”, “overseas”, “x million of sales turnover”, “n hundreds of staff”.
Critical Success Factors are critical because ALL CSFs must be achieved to consider the personal goal achieved.
Each CFS is linked to some Necessary Conditions, whose name remind that without these conditions achieved, the upper CSF is not granted. These first level NCs are themselves subordinate to some lower level NCs and so on.
The tree-like structure led to the tool’s name: Goal Tree.
A personal goal tree is a way to structure and focus on necessary achievements, competencies to acquire or strengthen.
It is a better way to ensure the ambition of a bright future to come true than the vague statement “one day I will…”
At least for all in need of concrete and specific intermediate objectives!
More about >Goal Trees here<
About the Author, Chris HOHMANN
Chris HOHMANN 