Goal and objective

The goal is the ultimate goal you want to reach, while the objective It is the step that you want to complete in order to reach the goal.

The objective is usually a more specific and structured purpose than the goal, because the results can be measured and observed. The goal is a desired state that can be broader and more abstract, and that does not involve a single specific action to achieve it..

The goal and the objective are achievements that you want to complete, although the objective requires more planning to fulfill it at a specific time. On the other hand, the goal does not establish a specific time to achieve it..

What is meta?

The goal is a long-term wish to be fulfilled. It can be set as the final score planning, the ultimate goal of the process.

When setting a goal, you think of an abstract idea that is visualized in the future. It is generally not intended to be quickly accomplished, but rather serves as a guide that indicates where we want to go..

Often times, the specific objectives are the ones that lead to the successful achievement of the goal.

Every day, the word goal indicates the end of the road. In fact, in sports, the one who reaches the finish line first is the winner. In this context, the stages of the competition would be the objectives to be met.

For example: if the goal is to buy a house in the future, you can set the goal of saving a certain amount of money at a certain time.

Types of goals

We can classify the goals according to the time we must spend to achieve them and the intention that we pursue with them..

According to the weather

• Short term: are those that are expected to be finalized in a short period of time. For example, a professional athlete who participates in a competition and seeks to win a medal.
• Medium term: are those that are displayed for a not so distant period of time. For example, a student hoping to earn a college degree.
• Long-term: the desired state to be achieved is in the distant future. For example, an actor who is starting his career and considers in the future to be among the highest paid artists in the world.

According to the intention

• Of domain: are those in which the aim is to learn new things and improve. For example, a student who investigates deeply and goes beyond what the teacher asks.
• Performance: the purpose is to demonstrate the skills in front of others. For example, when you get good grades in class.
• Of avoidance: they seek to avoid prolonging the work, or failing that, to finish it as soon as possible. For example, when a student prefers to complete his homework in the shortest time possible rather than continue learning more information on the subject.

What is objective?

The goal is a specific action that you want to execute to achieve a desired result.

Goals are essential in any planning process. They should be viewed as something tangible that requires detailed action.

Objectives are generally stated as Steps or actions that lead towards the achievement of a greater purpose, which is the goal.

The objective has a time limit to achieve this and also has other limitations of the current context, that is, the conditions within which that objective is declared.

In the work environment, it is normal for everyone to have the same goal, but each employee is asked to fulfill different objectives.

For example: take an English course before the end of the year because the goal is to live in a country where English is spoken.

Types of objectives

There are basically two types of objectives: general and specific objectives..

General objectives

The general objective is the main and generic purpose of a project.

Example: Lose weight for the next vacation.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives arise from the general objective to indicate each of the steps to follow to reach the general objective.

Example: Jogging in the park three times a week for 20 minutes each day.

See also General objectives and specific objectives.