You already know the importance of setting goals – both in personal and professional life. However, simply having a goal is not enough to achieve success. You also need to put in effort and turn your game plan into sustained action. This is where most of us fall down. Do you want to build momentum on what really matters?

Add in a few ‘implementation intentions’ and you have a foolproof plan to double your chances of hitting your goals. So, what, exactly are implementation intentions? And how do they turn you into a go-getting achiever? Put simply, they are if-then plans. They link situational cues (such as potential problems) with responses that will promote success. For example, “If I start feeling unmotivated, then I will do the next step on my action plan and record my success.”

Implementation intentions are powerful because they keep you focused on the end result. They essentially train your brain to think in a way that will keep you moving ahead. They are remarkably easy to create and research has shown they greatly increase your chances of hitting your goals. The key researcher in this field is Peter Gollwitzer. He has shown that adding implementation intention statements to action plans helps you overcome the three main blockers to goal-attainment. You probably recognise at least one of these.

• Failure to start ‘goal striving’. Also known as never getting started!
• Getting derailed or side-tracked in your efforts to achieve your goal.
• Succumbing to negative states and emotions.

It’s a great idea to set 2 or implementation intention statements for any important goal. So the next time you set a goal, don’t use the SMART formula. Use this simple formula to add an implementation intention to it: if situation X is encountered, then I will use behaviour Y in order to reach goal Z. Here are three examples of the formula in action.

1) If I start to get distracted, then I will close my email and turn off notifications for the next hour in order to focus on completing my project on time.

2) If I feel tempted to skip my workout, then I will put on my gym clothes and walk out the door in order to stick to my fitness routine and reach my weight loss goal.

3) If I encounter a difficult problem, then I will take a break and come back to it with a fresh perspective in order to find a solution and achieve success in my project.

And remember, the secret to success and personal fulfilment is knowing what matters to YOU. Then working to build momentum instead of trying to ‘fix’ yourself first. Because it turns out that when we do the things that are most meaningful, we become energised and focused. And, as if by magic, problems and barriers fade away.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders.