The Importance of Goals in Science

Although fall is not traditionally thought of as a time of new beginning, it does represent the start of both the new academic and fiscal years.  Viewed in that light, it seems we’re missing an opportunity to take a step back and start a new tradition based upon what we always do at the turn of a new year: no, not make a fool of ourselves at the office party OR drink too much OR lay around and watch football…  It’s time to make some New Lab Resolutions.

Goals can be great motivators because they’re really just deadlines in disguise.  Far too often, we join a lab or jump on a project without a real sense of what we’re supposed to be doing there, or what we want out of it.  If our goal is “to become an expert at column chromatography”, our days should look very different than if it is “to memorize the periodic table.”  Of course, with no goal, we’ll probably end up drifting along until someone pushes us in a direction (“do this project…”) – and that’s dangerous.

We’re not going to go Tony Robbins on you here, but setting goals can have an incredibly positive impact on our scientific career and it’s probably worth a few minutes of our time.  All too often, we ask the difficult questions (“why am I doing this?”) way too late at a time when we already feel trapped.  By taking the reigns and setting some goals, we’ll be back in control of our own destiny.

Create a Resolution

Well-developed goals share several attributes, they are:

1. Specific

Visualize exactly what you want to accomplish.  You should be able to see yourself accomplishing the goal and it should be something that makes you happy to watch.  If it’s actually someone else’s goal for you, it’s dead in the water.  The more specific it is, the better chance it will happen.

“I want to find a postdoc” is not a good resolution.

Instead try,

“By the end of the month, I will create a list of 10 organic chemistry labs in the Bay Area that I would like to work in.”

2. Realistic

Goals are not meant to be dream-killers.  However, if your goal is to publish one paper every day this year, you might be disappointed.  The resolution should be something within, or just outside of, your reach.

“I want to complete a draft of my dissertation two months before I defend” is a reasonable, yet challenging, goal.

3. Measurable

“I want to participate more.”  Good plan, but what does it mean?

“I want to ask at least one question in every group meeting this year.”  OK, now there are some benchmarks.

4. Controllable

Not every aspect of life is within our control.  Publishing papers is a good example.  We may think it’s beautiful work, but once it goes out to reviewers, we’re at their mercy.  However, we should be able to affect a vast majority of the processes necessary for achieving our goals.

“I want to get every grant I apply for over the next 20 years.”  Uh-oh.

“I want to submit 3 manuscripts this year.”  Now we’re talking.

Look at the goal often

Many experts suggest physically writing out the goal and placing it in a position we can see on a daily basis.  Constant reminders help keep the resolution top-of-mind.

The New Lab Resolution gives us a clear identity and purpose that the boss can see.  If a boss knows we are passionate about learning a given technique or writing a manuscript, a good one will generally accommodate our wishes.  However, without having a vocalized a goal and direction, we’re just hoping the boss reads our mind (and we all know how that turns out…).

Goals are also a great way to find out if we’re in the right place.  If we feel passionately about learning organic chemistry, but are in a biology lab, this is an important piece of datum to take into account.

Have any suggestions for goals that have motivated you in the past?