Mastery Goals
Setting goals is like plotting a map to your desired destination. It's a powerful tool that propels you forward, giving shape to your dreams. However, the ones that truly resonate, the ones that fire up your inspiration, are the ones that motivate personal growth. These are the mastery goals, the ones that guide you towards competency through intrinsic motivation.
Imagine stepping into the kitchen, ready to cook or bake. Following a recipe to the letter might yield a delicious outcome, but the mastery approach goes beyond instructions. It's about understanding the ingredients, experimenting with flavors, and crafting a dish that becomes uniquely yours. This same principle applies to any skill or task. A spreadsheet, for instance, may just be a tool for organizing work, but mastering it means confidently selecting formulas and functions without needing external guidance.
Mastery goals are like the next chapter in learning proficiently. They're driven by an inner desire to learn, to become truly adept at a process. Unlike approach goals that draw from external sources, mastery goals lead you from beginner to expert. Remember, if a goal stirs your inspiration, if it resonates deeply within you, then it's likely a mastery goal.
Questions to consider a mastery goal.
What’s a behavior or task you believe you do well?
What’s one way you might elevate that accomplishment to mastery?
How does that goal make you feel? Spark interest? Demotivating?