Difference Between Goals and Objectives

Table of Contents

Main Difference

The terms like goals and objectives are often used interchangeably in daily lives, without even knowing the difference in their attribute. The misconception about this interchangeable usage prevails as both these terms are associated with one and another. To achieve something, some goals and objectives are set by the pupil, so it makes them highly motivated and concentrated. While differentiating it between both the terms informally, it won’t be wrong to say that the objectives are the different step that makes your way to the goals. For instance, you want to be a good batsman; to be a good batsman is your goal and the steps or the little contributions adding up to make you good batsmen are the objectives. To be a good batsman, you need to first achieve the objectives like footwork, temperament, right shot selection, and much more.

Comparison Chart

GoalsObjectives
Goals are the aspiring accomplishments you want to make in future.The Objectives are the rapid achievements, whose accomplishments makes you motivated to keep on striving towards your goals.
Time
Long-term.Short-term.
Nature
AbstractConcrete

What are Goals?

Goals are the life-long aims that are widely used in different stages of the business planning and also in the daily lives. Here we will be explaining the term goal in a general manner so you could be able to differentiate between the other similar looking words. Goals are the aspiring accomplishments you want to make in future. These life-long aims are achieved by making different strategies and by setting objectives. These are your ultimate plans or the main aim, and in order to achieve right there, you go through several accomplishments, which can be termed as the objectives, if set deliberately. The goals are more of the motivation rather than a plan or strategy. After setting the goal, the plan or strategy is always set to accomplish the goal. The goals are always difficult to achieve and require hard work, concentration and that too with consistency. As the success is not something you get overnight, the goal is also something you do not get that easy; you need to strive for that to achieve. In other words, we can say that the goals are the laughs; and the smiles are the objectives. And in order to achieve the goals, you need to accomplish the objectives.

Example of Goals

A company owner in a meeting announces the goal to be the largest company of the region by years 2020. It should be kept noted that it is a long-term purpose that would need several plans and accomplishments to achieve this goal. It is abstract in nature and is the ultimate purpose of the company.

What are Objectives?

The Objectives are the rapid achievements, whose accomplishments makes you motivated to keep on striving towards your goals. It won’t be wrong to say that, one can’t head towards the goal without accomplishing the objectives. As we know that goals are the ideas that one keeps as long-term aims. Contrary to this, the objectives are the more of the plans that need to be executed rightly to get your goals fulfilled. Speaking informally, we can say that objectives are the step of stairs that make your way up to the roof. If one desiring to meet the goal doesn’t set objectives then that person can’t get to the goals. In other words, we can say that objectives are the road to the goal. They are also for the motivational purpose as these little achievements makes oneself dedicated and motivated and to be in the right direction, in order to achieve the goal. The Objectives are something that lacks emotions and are more about the technique and process to reach the goals. It should be kept noted that objectives are for the limited period and they can be easily measured after they are achieved. In most of the cases, the numeric or measurable of achievement is involved in the objectives.

Example of Objectives

If one company has the goal to be the biggest company in the region, the accomplishments achieved while reaching up there will be the objectives. These achievements are quite concrete and are less specific. They also don’t require much of the time.

Goals vs. Objectives

  • The achieving of goals requires more time as compared to the objectives.
  • Several objectives get fulfilled while achieving the goals.
  • The goals are the idea or emotion involving accomplishment, which is to be achieved in a long time, whereas the objective is the execution or a plan of the accomplishments to achieve the goals.
  • The goals are abstract in nature, and the achievement is always in the specific direction or the field. Contrary to this, the objectives are concrete in nature, and the achievement may be in the general direction.

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