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- What are the benefits of goal setting tools?
We know from research that setting goals can bring many benefits – including improved focus, performance, and motivation. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, or to know which goal setting tools might be most helpful and effective for you.
With that said, we’ll consider some benefits of goal setting tools and look closer at a few of the different methods available.
What are some common goal setting tools?

A goal setting tool is any method or resource that helps you plan goals, measure success, and identify potential obstacles along the way. There are various goal setting tools around, but we’ll cover some of the most common below.
To learn more, check out this list of 15 goal-setting frameworks from Upraise.
SMART goals
Creating SMART goals is one of the most well-known and widely used goal setting methods. The concept was created in 1981 by consultant George T. Doran who published his ideas in a paper called ‘There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives’.
SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound…
- Specific – goals should be clear, with a set outcome
- Measurable – how will you track the progress of your goal?
- Achievable – goals need to be realistic
- Relevant – goals should be aligned with your overall, long-term mission
- Time-based – goals should have a clear deadline
The SMART goal-setting framework can be particularly helpful for creating and tracking goals that are clear, realistic, and have a set time limit.
W.O.O.P
Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan (W.O.O.P) is a goal-setting tool that was developed by Gabriele Oettingen, Professor of Psychology at New York University, in the early 1990s. This four-step process is intended to help people clarify goals, imagine the ideal outcome, identify potential obstacles, and plan accordingly. This involves…
- Wish – decide on a goal that’s important, challenging, and achievable for you
- Outcome – visualise the outcome by imagining how you’d feel if you achieved your goal
- Obstacle – consider any obstacles that may prevent you from achieving your goal
- Plan – with this information, plan how you can overcome these obstacles
The W.O.O.P framework can be particularly useful for identifying obstacles to your goals early on and putting plans in place to overcome them.
OKR Framework
OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results. This method involves setting a clear goal and defining specific, measurable results that unambiguously define the success or failure of that goal.
OKR provides a clear method of tracking progress and tends to be most popular in a professional setting. For example, according to research, it’s the goal-setting method used by big companies like Google and LinkedIn.
One Word goal setting
One World goal setting involves choosing a single word that best represents your overall mission, before developing specific actions and behaviours that align with that word.
For example, if you chose the word ‘health’, your goal could be to improve your physical health and, therefore, you might introduce actions like exercising regularly and improving your diet.
The One Word method is simple and easy to remember, making it a popular option for those wanting to simplify their goal-setting process.

Locke and Latham’s Five Principles Framework
In 1990, psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham developed a goal-setting theory designed to boost motivation and improve performance.
Their framework outlines five key principles of effective goal setting: clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity. In practice, Locke and Latham’s Five Principles involve setting clear goals that are challenging but achievable; making sure team members are committed; regularly checking in on progress; considering task complexity; and adjusting goals if necessary.
One of the main advantages of Locke and Latham’s Five Principles framework is that it’s based on deep research that considers various factors that can influence performance.
Big Hairy Audacious Goals
Big Hairy Audacious Goals (B.H.A.G.) encourages people to set highly ambitious goals that require significant effort and to step outside of their comfort zone. After identifying a goal, the B.H.A.G. framework involves breaking it down into smaller, achievable milestones with a clear plan for success.
The B.H.A.G. framework can be particularly useful for inspiring creativity, innovation, and determination to achieve large goals.
Goal-setting apps
If you’d like help keeping track of your goals, you could consider using an app.
Goal-setting apps are designed to help you set goals and track goal progress – for example, by sending you reminders or helping you break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Check out this list of the five best goal tracker apps from Fresh Books for more information.
What are the benefits of using goal setting tools?

Research has revealed several benefits to using goal setting tools. For example…
Goal setting tools can improve accountability
Research has found that the simple act of writing down goals and tracking your progress can improve accountability – almost by serving as a form of public declaration that people want to commit to.
When it comes to achieving goals, research has found that accountability can make all the difference. One study even found that, with scheduled accountability, you only have a 5% chance of not achieving a goal.
Goal setting tools can boost motivation
Goal setting tools can also be useful for breaking down long-term goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. And, providing a more frequent sense of achievement along the way, can be a powerful tool for maintaining motivation.
Additionally, having clear deadlines in itself has been found to boost motivation. This theory is founded on a concept known as Parkinson’s Law, which suggests that as humans, our work output naturally adapts to the amount of time provided.
Goal setting tools can provide direction and clarity
Many goal setting tools require you to set specific goals with clear deadlines, which can be helpful for understanding exactly what you need to do in order to achieve them.
As a byproduct of this, many people find that goal setting tools can help them with organisation and forward-thinking.
Goal setting tools can increase your chances of success
By increasing focus and motivation, and providing accountability, research suggests that people who set clear goals are around 10 times more likely to succeed compared to those who don’t.
Another study found that even people who wrote down their goals instead of setting them inside their heads were 33% more successful in achieving them.
Goal setting tools may boost confidence and result in a sense of purpose
There’s evidence that, by increasing your chances of success, using goal setting tools can boost self-confidence by helping people feel more capable and in control of their lives. Keeping track of your goals can also feed into a greater sense of purpose.
Final thoughts...
Experts have identified several impressive benefits of using goal setting tools, from improved confidence and motivation to accountability and a better chance of succeeding. So why not try a goal-setting tool today?
For further reading, head over to the personal development section of our website. Here, you’ll find information on everything from retirement ideas to leaving a meaningful legacy.
Have you used goal setting tools before? What are your main takeaways from this article? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
Leigh Spencer is a freelance lifestyle writer for Rest Less and contributes articles on mental health and relationships. Leigh was in a long-term abusive relationship and is also raising awareness about emotional abuse, financial abuse, and reproductive coercion through her website: theinvisibleabuseproject.co.uk. When she’s not writing, she's supporting her two sons and following her other interests of politics and sport. She has also travelled extensively, visiting New Zealand on an exchange program, working in Canada as a nanny, and spending fourteen years in the USA with her family, including their two cats.
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