How do I Determine a Person's Progress?

Create a chart or spreadsheet to determine someone's progress toward a goal.

Progress is the process of becoming closer to achieving a particular goal or objective. When helping an individual to succeed or improve at a task, determining progress is crucial. The analysis of progress can show a person how to persevere, even when the goal may seem impossible. Help the individual to set a goal, create a time schedule, regularly discuss the components of the goal and then evaluate whether or not the person achieved the goal.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Computer

Instructions

1. Help your friend or colleague to set a goal. To determine his progress, you must have him decide on a goal to achieve. For example, he may want to lose 10 pound in five weeks. This is his goal.

2. Create a time schedule to analyze progress. Organization helps to decrease anxiety when trying to achieve an objective. For example, you may tell the person that she needs to eat healthy and exercise at least four days each week in order to lose 10 pounds in five weeks. To meet her goal, she should lose at least two pounds each week.

3. Discuss the components of the goal with the person after each week on the time schedule. If you meet with him after each week, then you will be able to discuss the goal with him more frequently. For example, after the first week, he may have only lost one pound instead of two. You can then provide suggestions that will help him to improve, such as varying his workout or eating smaller portions.

4. Evaluate whether or not the goal was achieved. At the end of the time period, you can determine her progress based on whether or not she met the goal. For example, she may have lost 10 pounds by the end of the five-week period.

5. Compare the final outcome to the success of the time schedule. You can determine progress through observation and data analysis. Comparing smaller goals to the overall goal will help you see how much the person progressed each week.

   For example, the person may have lost one pound the first week, two the next, three the next, two the next and two the next. Therefore, he progressed in weight loss by one pound for the first three weeks. The fourth and fifth week, his progress decreased by one pound but was according to schedule. At the end of the time period, his overall progress increased. He lost the 10 pounds in five weeks.

References

• The Free Dictionary: Progress
• Mind Tools: Personal Goal Setting