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Don’t be too hasty to give up planning due to a dislike of writing.  Writing comes in all sizes—from jotting down quick emails, drafting company proposals, to elaborate strategizing.  You’re most certainly competent at some form of it.  But if the idea of linear goal planning on paper or computer is not for you, here’s some unique approaches you can try.

FIRST BE CLEAR ON THE VALUE

Edwin Locke, motivation expert at the University of Maryland, says “Goal-setting theory has been rated as #1 in importance among 73 management theories by organizational behavior scholars.”  Whether you write goals down or use another memory approach, if you set goals and action steps in advance it will help you achieve them. 

FINALIZE YOUR COMMITMENT

Do you use “I’m not a writer” as an excuse to procrastinate in your goal setting?  Buff up your skills and boost your writing confidence by taking an adult class or workshop that offers writing techniques.  In Study Smarter, Not Harder, the author says, “the principle behind writing down your goals is the same as the one behind making notes rather than relying on your memory… Things have a strong tendency to be more of a true commitment when they are written down.” 

STYLE APPRECIATION

If your commitment is strong, then identify how you learn best and use that in your planning method.  Stephen G. Harris, in his book Culture and Learning, identified six informal styles of learning of the Aborigines, which mimic the learning styles of most cultures.  These are: learning by doing, observing, through imitation, personal trial-and-error, real life performances, and persistence.  To know what works best for you, ask yourself, “What learning approaches have I used in past situations that made it easier for me to remember things and apply them?” 

METHODS FOR GOAL-PLANNING

Here are a few different methods that encompass visual, tactile or audio styles to register goals and actions: 

Mandala drawings ─ use paint or colored ink to make a geometric design.  The center will represent your primary goal and smaller concentric circles expand from it to depict action steps.

Mind map ─ a collage of lines, circles or boxes, similar to a flowchart, can represent your ideas.

Wall diagram ─ a large colored sticky note holds the place of your main goal surrounded by smaller colored sticky notes, each signifying action steps.

Photo collage ─ clip photos from magazines to create a mural that mirrors your objectives.

City walk ─ collect different items from around your office or neighborhood to symbolize your goals and actions, e.g., a piece of string, a twig, a torn piece of news print, a gum wrapper, a leaf.

Audio recording ─ tape record your voice saying your goals and actions.

Brain-act ─brainstorm with others about your projects.  With you acting as the main goal, others can have fun with you portraying your different action steps.

Mnemonic ─ a word or string of words you make up can stand for your goals.

Poetic Repetition ─ borrow stanzas from poetry and substitute your goals and actions.  Repeat them to the familiar rhythm, or make up original rhymes with each action step in order.

Rhythm stimulation ─ music can help you focus your goals through its rhythmic sound, e.g. classic sonatas, native drumming, nature sounds, harpsichord, or repetitive Indian chants. 

These are just a few of many methods you can use.  You can choose one or combine them, but don’t get distracted by changing to different approaches midway.  They’re only as useful as they suit your learning style, assist goal clarity and get you results!