How often have you felt a surge of optimism and declared goals that reach for the sky?

When the initial fire ebbs away and reality sets in, you realize it was just a pipe dream.

While having goals is an absolute must in both our personal and professional lives, there is a right and wrong way to set goals.

Here are three goal-setting tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of unrealistic goals:

Tip #1:  Be a realist and aim for attainable goals.

And by attainable, I mean possible given the resources, situation, and time that you have. Don’t let hyped-up emotions cloud your judgment. Get the feedback of people who will perform the day-to-day tasks needed to reach the goals.

If they seriously think it’s possible, then it’s possible.

It’s important that these people are on the same page as you, from the specific goals set to the processes in place to reach it.

Tip #2: Be consistent.

The goals you set should be in line with the bigger goals of the company. Lack of consistency will throw off the focus of your team, and soon they will be questioning the purpose of the goals you set in place.

When your goals are in line with the bigger picture, employees will see how your current goals at work are in tune with previous goals that were attained. This sets a chain of goals and achievements that fit together like a tight puzzle.

Tip #3: Be supportive after you set the plans in place.

Remember that the crucial part of goal setting doesn’t just end when you lay out your plans- providing support to team members as the actual work is being done is of equal importance.

Check in with your colleagues and team members on a regular basis. Reassess the goals together when morale is low or when challenges are faced. Reminding yourself and your team of the reasons for the current list of goals can do wonders to motivate everyone and move you forward.

Our present goals are our future accomplishments. The importance of setting the right things to reach for cannot be emphasized enough. With these sound goals setting tips you will find yourself achieving more, not just with your specific short-term goals, but also with your long-term plans as well for a successful career.