In the latest episode of our new podcast, ‘Impactful Conversations’, we explore the topic of this article in more detail, looking at how leaders and managers can set goals effectively and align their purpose, identity and motivation. We give you actionable takeaways you can implement to enhance your leadership skills. You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Today’s fast-paced world can make setting and achieving meaningful goals feel like an increasingly complex challenge. Recent research and practical experience suggest that successful goal attainment relies less on sheer willpower and more on strategic alignment with our identity, purpose, and our intrinsic motivations.
In this article, we touch on six important areas around what you need to focus on and what you need to avoid when it comes to effective goal setting.
We also cover practical tips on how you can sustain yourself on the journey towards the outcomes that you set out – for yourself, for your leadership and for your team.
1. The Role of Purpose and Identity
One of the fundamental elements of effective goal setting is our alignment with our sense of purpose. We are far more likely to achieve our goals when they feel purposeful, so leaders need to find elements of their work that fulfill their personal purpose, even when they may seem misaligned with that of the organisation.
Identity also plays a crucial role in goal achievement. Research shows that goals supported by a strong sense of self-identity are more likely to succeed. For example, if you pride yourself on always keeping your word, then sharing your intentions with others creates a powerful motivational force that fits with your self-perception.
2. Systems and Support
Individuals with strong support systems are significantly more likely to achieve their goals compared to those working in isolation. It’s not just about accountability, it’s about creating a network of people that can help you to navigate challenges and maintain momentum during difficult periods.
And creating systems and environments that align with desired outcomes is another technique that successful goal-setters rely on. This makes progress feel more natural and it requires less forced effort.
Sidebar:
We hear willpower referenced a lot, when we’re talking about achieving goals, but it actually doesn’t play as big a part in achieving goals as you may think. There’s a lot of research, including Kelly McGonigal’s work in ‘The Willpower Instinct’ (I couldn’t find ‘Willpower Without Effort’), that demonstrates how willpower is a finite resource that becomes depleted and so it’s wise not to rely on it to achieve your goals.
3. Motivation is Key
Motivation plays a huge part in achieving your goals, however there are two different forms of motivation and it’s interesting to note the difference in impact between the two.
Goals driven by intrinsic motivation – your internal desires and personal values, tend to be more sustainable than those motivated by extrinsic elements – external rewards.
Many goals contain both intrinsic and extrinsic elements. For example, a fitness goal might seem externally motivated (reaching a specific target) but could actually be intrinsically driven by your desires to be healthier and to have more energy.
4. Setting Parameters
One innovative approach to goal setting that you may want to consider involves moving away from binary success/failure metrics, toward range-based targets. For example, instead of setting a fixed sales target of £2 million, establishing a range between £1.75 million and £2.5 million acknowledges external factors while maintaining high standards. This approach helps to maintain motivation by preventing early discouragement when perfect outcomes prove elusive.
5. Visualisation
Creating a rich, detailed vision of your desired outcome can serve as a powerful motivational tool. Some people respond well to visual techniques like vision boards, for others, a written or verbal articulation of their goals might resonate more. The key is finding a method that makes the future state feel tangible and achievable to you.
6. Celebrating Milestones
It’s all too easy to keep looking ahead to the next goal and the next goal and the one after that. High performers often fall into the trap of continuously raising the bar without acknowledging the progress that they and their teams are making.
Taking time to recognise and celebrate milestone achievements serves two crucial purposes:
- Providing motivation-boosting evidence of progress
- Helping to maintain team engagement in organisational contexts
Final Thoughts
The art of effective goal setting continues to evolve as new research emerges. What remains constant, however, is the importance of alignment between:
- goals and purpose
- intention and identity
- aspirations and available resources.
By moving beyond simplistic ‘try harder’ approaches and, instead, embracing more nuanced, evidence-based strategies, individuals and organisations can set themselves up for sustainable success in achieving their most important objectives.
This more sophisticated understanding of goal setting acknowledges both the science behind human motivation and the practical realities of sustained effort.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the most successful goal-setters will be those who can effectively align their ambitions with their authentic selves while building the support systems and structures necessary for long-term success.
A reminder; in the latest episode of our new podcast, ‘Impactful Conversations’, we explore the topic of this article in more detail, looking at how leaders and managers can set goals effectively and align their purpose, identity and motivation. We give you actionable takeaways you can implement to enhance your leadership skills. You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Exigence provides a full suite of evidence-based business coaching solutions, driven by a desire to help individuals and teams to achieve their performance potential. Find out more here or contact us to talk through how we can support you.
