- Home
- /
- Non-Accredited
- /
- Workplace Essentials & Personal Effectiveness
- /
- Goal Setting and Getting Things Done (1 day)
Goal Setting and Getting Things Done (1 day)
Delegates set goals they genuinely care about and build the habits that turn them into finished work.
Plenty of people set goals; far fewer finish them. Targets are agreed at the start of the year, then buried under daily pressure, distraction and the tasks everyone keeps putting off. This goal setting training closes the gap between intention and delivery with practical methods delegates can use the next morning.
The day starts with setting the right goals – positive, personal, possible and prioritised, then made SMART. It then concentrates on getting them done: beating procrastination with short-start techniques such as the 15-minute and one-minute rules, keeping motivation up by tracking progress and rewarding milestones, and building to-do lists and routines that keep the important work moving. Delegates also learn how to recover when things go wrong, so that one setback does not end the plan.
Each topic uses short case studies and the delegates' own goals. Everyone leaves with three written goals, the first steps for each and a simple way to track them. This course is about personal follow-through; for prioritising a full workload, delegation and meetings, see Essential Time Management Skills (1 day).
Why this course
For your organisation
- Staff who finish what they start
- Individual goals that line up with team and business targets
- Less procrastination on important but unwelcome tasks
- A more motivated, self-directed workforce
For your delegates
- Goals that are clear, personal and achievable
- Simple techniques to start the tasks you avoid
- Ways to keep motivation up over weeks, not days
- Three written goals with first steps and a tracking method
What delegates will be able to do
- Write goals that are positive, personal, possible and prioritised
- Turn each goal into a SMART goal with a clear deadline
- Use the 15-minute, five-minute and one-minute rules to start and finish tasks
- Remove distractions and set realistic deadlines
- Track progress and use rewards and simple game elements to stay motivated
- Build a to-do list that keeps the focus on important work
- Protect time for your goals with the urgent-important matrix and the 80/20 rule
- Recover from mistakes and setbacks and adjust the plan
Who should attend
Anyone who wants to achieve more of what they set out to do – individual contributors, administrators, sales staff, new supervisors and team members working towards performance targets. It suits individuals, and teams starting a new year, a new strategy or a new performance cycle.
Course outline
Day 1 – From goals to finished work
Setting goals that matter
- Why written goals are more likely to be achieved
- The four P's: positive, personal, possible and prioritised
- Making goals SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely
- Linking personal goals to team and business targets
- Drafting your first goal
Beating procrastination
- Doing the task you most want to avoid first
- The 15-minute rule and chopping big tasks into pieces
- Removing distractions
- Starting small and building momentum
- Setting realistic deadlines
- Case study
Staying motivated
- Remembering your peak moments
- Writing goals down and keeping them visible
- Points, rewards and other game elements for milestones
- Tracking progress so you can see it
- Case study
Getting tasks finished
- The one-minute and five-minute rules
- Breaking up large tasks
- Using apps and technology without adding distraction
- Repeating what works and building on success
- Dropping 'should' from your vocabulary
Time and to-do lists
- The urgent-important matrix and the 80/20 rule
- Calendars and daily routines
- To-do lists that focus on the important
- Chunk, block and tackle
- Planning the week ahead
When things go wrong
- Accepting mistakes and bouncing back
- Adapting the plan and learning from setbacks
- Knowing when to ask for help
- Three goals, first steps and a tracking plan
- Evaluation and close
How it is delivered
One day, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20. Workbook, case studies and a goal-tracking template included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
★★★★★ 4.8 on Google from 790+ reviews · word-for-word quotes from signed letters of reference, from clients on this and/or related BOTI courses
“The course was efficiently scheduled and planned around our timetable. We were impressed by both the quality of training and the Facilitators.”
“We have been very impressed with their service and rollout of the training.”
“We were particularly impressed by the quality of facilitation and the practical relevance of the content presented. The programme was delivered with professionalism, clarity, and a strong emphasis on real-world application”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. Most groups are trained at the client's premises anywhere in South Africa; we can also host it at a BOTI venue or deliver it live online.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to groups of about 20. The price per delegate drops as the group grows – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
Is it accredited?
No. It is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
How is this different from the time management course?
This course focuses on setting personal goals and following through on them. Essential Time Management Skills (1 day) focuses on managing a full workload: prioritising, delegation, email and meetings. Many teams take both.
Can it be linked to our performance management cycle?
Yes. Share your goal or KPI format beforehand and delegates practise writing their goals in that format.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
Related courses
Ask a consultant for a written quote
A BOTI consultant emails you a written quote, usually within 15 minutes (Mon–Fri, 08:00–17:00). After hours, we reply on the next working day. To speak to someone now, call 011 882 8853.
Your quote request is for: Goal Setting and Getting Things Done (1 day)