As this post about how to live your life without goals indicates, for some time now, I’ve been wondering about the relevance of traditional goal setting and looking for ways to create focus and progress that address or mitigate the drawbacks within traditional goal-setting.
I wrote about some of my concerns with the traditional S-M-A-R-T goal setting model over at The Change Blog and proposed another model I cheekily called S-M-A-R-T-E-S-T goals. And over the past year I’ve been trying alternative methods out in my own life and with my current clients and been bantering with like-minded (and smart!) people like Charlie Gilkey and Jamie Smart about alternative ways to create scaffolding that’ll support you to focus and create the experiences you want in life. I’ve been trying to figure out how to balance flexibility, agility, freedom, following your heart and being in the moment with the structure that seems to help with focusing and getting stuff done.
There’s been some great stuff that’s come out of all of these debates, explorations and musings that’s proving useful, that I plan to share with you in a series of posts over this month, but I also still have a bunch of questions, and I’d love to banter with you about this stuff, hear from you about what’s working and not working for you and see what new paradigms we can co-create.
But first, I’ve put together a video (13mins long) explaining some of the reasons why I think traditional goal setting is broken. Have a watch, and then I’d love to hear your thoughts…
What’s your take on goal setting?
So what do you think? Have you experienced similar frustrations with goal-setting or are you a goal-setting evangelist? Am I onto something or missing the point entirely? I’d love to hear from you:
- Is there anything about the traditional goal-setting paradigm that works for you, that you think should be included in a new paradigm?
- And what parts of traditional goal-setting don’t work for you, frustrate you or suck the bliss from you?
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What I dislike about goals is they’re static. They’re focused on getting one particular thing, achieving a single milestone, and in that way they’re inflexible.
I prefer to focus on a vision, an overall lifestyle, although I still have a few goals to help me along the way, but they aren’t the end, they’re just stepping stones.
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Really great video! Just tweeted it.
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@David: thanks for sharing your thoughts. That “static” thing about goal-setting bothers me too, but I wonder if that can be solved by just reviewing your goals regularly, or whether a more fundamental shift in paradigm is required. I’d love to hear more about the specifics of the approach you use.
@Dani: thanks
CathD´s last blog ..Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken?
Hi Cath, I loved this video. I struggle with the same issues. I’ve changed my mind on goals a lot. My life, interests, priorities, circumstances, whatever changes too much to keep focused on very detailed goals. How do I know by the time I reach that wonderful vision of the big house on the beach that I’ll still want it? I wrote a post once on redefining our ultimate goals and I said this about myself:
“So I’ve reoriented my goals towards the most important things first. Things like personal freedom, time, well-being, peace, happiness, relationships, etc. If the rest of it (the stuff) is available as a bonus then great. However, I’m no longer sure the view is worth the climb for that stuff. ”
I really like the approach Sonja Lyubomirsky takes, even if they are still “traditional” goals:
“The pursuit of goals that are intrinsic, authentic, approach-oriented, harmonious, activity-based, and flexible will deliver more happiness than the pursuit of goals that are extrinsic, inauthentic, avoidance-oriented, conflicting, circumstance-based, or rigid. This mouthful of words is based on decades of research.”
I love her point about “circumstance based” goals.
What I want now is to learn how to be self-accepting, creative, relaxed, adaptable (your word might be agile), nicer to other people and so on. I realized that “hedonic adaptation” is simply going to make the big house on the beach a disappointment.
This is a great conversation you are trying to start here!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by cathduncan: is goal-setting broken? http://bit.ly/6Khy6f Are you a goal-setting evangelist, or do goals bore/ frustrate the hell out of you?…
Hey Stephen, thanks for adding your thoughts. You’ve clearly given this a lot of thought and I know you read widely too. It sounds like you’re using a values-driven approach, which is quite similar to what I’ve been doing for a while now (even though traditional goal-setting says you should be more specific). I find it easier to be happy now when I’m aiming for values, rather than goals – because I already have what I value right now (even though I can have more of it still, and even though I can never have all of it because values are an asymptote).
“The pursuit of goals that are intrinsic, authentic, approach-oriented, harmonious, activity-based, and flexible”… that’s a useful set of ideas to ponder… thanks!
looking forward to hear more from you in this conversation!
Hey Cath:
Love what you have to say about goals.
I too believe that they can be too confining and for some people they are very scary. I have always been able to use goals succcessfully but I know they don’t work for everyone. I use the term “dreams” instead of “goals” with my clients because they can be flexible and dynamic. I have whole chapter about this very issue in my book which is targeted to the franchise world since that is my background.
Very important insights you shared with us in this post.
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Hi Cath, you are correct about the more values-based approach, but it is still evolving as we speak. Your article has inspired me to write one of my own that spells out my current thinking in more detail.
Stephen – Rat Race Trap´s last blog ..Optimizing Your Working Memory – Part II
The first thing i want to say about this is that i think you are right, there are some problems with traditional goal setting paradigms in that they tend to focus on what we lack, presume that we know what we want in the future, and risk focusing attention in a way which might be unhelpful sometimes. Not exactly a recipe for happiness.
Having said that when I have set specific goals myself I have often had great results, much faster than I expected. So we need to find ways of making these work for us, and with us and with the possibilities and opportunities the world offers us. Maybe part of this is to recognise that writing has changed. When these tradtional approaches were developed writing was ‘fixed’ so having written goals meant they were somehow fixed. Now we can have the same piece of writing existing simultaneously in different forms and in different places at different times. So I can copy this post to my blog and later edit it and publish it somewhere else. And maybe our goals can become like this. We can set them in a way which allows for change, eg. focus on what we want o be rather than what we want to have, set a direcion rather than a destination, and review them when we want to to…..
By the way the Harvard study might be a myth……http://sidsavara.com/personal-productivity/fact-or-fiction-the-truth-about-the-harvard-written-goal-study
[...] that targeted something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I suggest you check it out: Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken? She speaks to the issues I’ve been wrestling with myself. It is a nice background to this [...]
I totally agree – goals should be what works for you, not what management thinks the best acronym is
I think the SMART framework is a great start for those feeling lost, but the takeaway from the video and comments for me is that goal setting is not a one size fits all approach.
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@Stephen – I look forward to it. Once you’ve written your post, drop the link to it in these comments here for us, please (and give me a tweet about having done that so I can make sure it makes it past the spam filter)!
@Andy Sumpter: I like your take on the idea of finding a format to write goals in that reminds you that your goals can evolve – and you’re right that digital formats can make this easier. And thanks for the link to Sid’s article about the goal setting study – amazing how that sort of anecdote/ story/ “study” can spread without even being true! Yikes!
@Travel Andy: lol! But I thought personal development was all about clever acronyms and nifty 5-step processes! haha!
Actually, I think you raise an important point – perhaps it’s a bit about where you’re at in your development. Maybe traditional goal-setting is the place to start if you’re totally new to intentional living, and then to grow into using more agile, unstructured methods…?
CathD´s last blog ..Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken?
@Lizette: that’s an interesting distinction – saying “dreams” instead of “goals” – I can imagine that for some people the idea of “dreams” is more compelling than goals. Amazing how much difference a single word can make! I use the word “changes” instead of “goals” and I speak of developing “change strategies” instead of plans. I find that the word change helps people remember it’s a process rather than a destination, and helps them remember the “to be” stuff and not just think of the “to do” and “to have side.
CathD´s last blog ..Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken?
I am delighted that you are exploring the traditional goal setting paradigm. Eight of us, who had completed a consciousness course together, decided we next wanted to form a Mastermind Group to use a s a container for us as we tired to take what had transpired for us in the consciousness group into the world of business and everyday life. We got some training in traditional mastermind set up etc. and preceded but from the beginning felt uncomfortable with the goal setting. We then each reshaped our goals trying to incorporate more consciousness but we still weren’t real happy. After 3 months it was still not satisfactory. Now we’ve decided to blog about our intentions—so we’re trying to find another way of providing structure for each other as we create our lives in the 21st century. I’d be delighted to hear of any suggestions.
Hi Gloria, and thanks for sharing about your experiences with goal setting. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on my future posts (since my views are still evolving… probably always will be, huh?!)
By the way, I had a look at your site and your paintings – love them and they look like they were such fun to make! What a great combination – art and life coaching!
CathD´s last blog ..Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken?
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With the New Year creeping up on us faster than most of us would like, I can’t think of a better way to start off the new year than finding new and innovative ways to set my goals.
Shaun
http://www.MyNewYearsResolutionsExtremeMakeover.com
Hi Cath
This is an important subject and one I’ve been addressing for a long time – encouraging my clients to live their lives in the present while assisting them in setting goals for an envisioned future. The key seems to be always to work from the heart because the heart tells us at any given moment what we are here for and what our unique contribution to the planet is, which in turn will make us happy if we can follow it regardless of external influences.
When I encourage my clients to go into their heart via meditation, visualisation, accessing their intuition etc, the outcome can shift them onto on a previously unimagined path which, if they had set a firm course to reach a specific goal as they intended, they might never have opened themselves up to exciting new possibilities.
It has to be said that the clients I attract are generally the ones who have a more right-brained approach to life – no surprise there! – so I imagine that the Harvard-style coaches whose clients continue to have success with traditional-style goal-setting methods most probably continue to attract more left-brain clients.
It seems that as we are moving forward so rapidly now from the 3rd into the 5th Dimension (the 4th being simply the bridge), we are automatically developing the ability to manifest a thought much quicker than before – sometimes practically in the blink of an eye – which loses us the previous time-span opportunity to change our minds, but therefore making us more aware of how our thoughts truly create our world – and goalsetting essentially a thing of the past!
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this dynamic discussion!
Warm wishes
Jean
I believe the Harvard study is a myth. Michael Neill talks about it – he looked into it and couldn’t find the study. I believe Harvard have since come out and said it isn’t true.
What this illustrates for me is how received wisdom keeps getting re-circulated even when that wisdom hasn’t worked very well for the person advocating it!
When I look back at my successes, none of them are the result of setting goals – they are either because I absolutely had to do something by a deadline or because I just got interested in something and pursued it as far as I could.
This is the basis of my upcoming book that advocates “playing” your way to the life you want.
@Jean: I think you raise an important point about personal preferences/ thinking styles. Perhaps right-brain-directed techniques are better for right-brain-directed people… it’s an interesting topic to think about in the light of the ideas in Dan Pink’s “A Whole New Mind,” where he’s saying that the developed world is moving towards right-brain-directed workplaces, an we all need to learn how to use right-brain-directed thinking styles if we want to thrive in this era. I guess the other side is that we’re all born with a whole brain and perhaps there are different phases in the problem-solving process/ change process, where it’s appropriate to use right-brain-directed thinking styles and other parts where it works best to use left-brain-directed thinking styles. I’m hatching a post about this right now… (thanks for the stimulation!)
@John: Yes, Andy Sumpter (in the comments above) gave a link for an article about the Harvard study that says the same about it not having been true. I think this is an example of how a “sticky” story can get passed on just because it has the qualities of a sticky story, even though it’s not true!
Looking forward to reading your book when it comes out!
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[...] a recent video post I explained a few of my reasons why I think that traditional goal-setting is broken, and why [...]
Enjoyed the goal setting video. Think we the Harvard study speaks volumes as to how we should behave, perhaps in a less structured way. You can do this is lots of ways with goal setting websites 43 Things is good, the support of othe goal setters is important.
When you’re living in a developing country, as I am in Vietnam, goal setting becomes a lesson in buddah-like patience. I was the ultimate goal-setter at home in Melbourne, religiously writing lists and weekly, monthly and yearly plans. Walt Disney apparently had a 50 year plan, so I was inspired! But here in Hoi An, there is a very different approach to life in general.
I’m in the midst of creating my new merchandise range – the JadeMonster plush toy, tees and bags to start with. It’s wonderful to be on the ground here having real input into the creative process of these products, HOWEVER, it’s very slow. I drink a lot of coffees with a lot of people. I watch the river go by. I watch the sun set over the ocean. And slowly, things get done.
Six months ago, I’m sure my goals were different, but each day here brings a new turn in the road I could never have imagined yesterday. Setting goals here really is a moment by moment experience.
I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Jx
@Darabell: thanks for stopping by and joining the discussion. You’re right that linking up with other people who are also focusing themselves and proactively creating the life they want is a great way to get better at managing your life.
@Jade: Interesting… so your experience of un/ under-developed worlds is that there’s less control/ predictability and things happen more slowly. In a strange paradoxical way, in developed worlds, while it’s faster pace, it’s equally unpredictable and uncontrollable, I think. I’ve got an upcoming post, with various people’s views on the issue of control/ unpredictability, coming up on the blog soon – look out for it.
All the best with your JadeMonster stuff
CathD´s last blog ..Call Recording: How to Create the Framework to Get the Results You want in Life, With Michele Woodward
Great video and a really groundbreaking (for me, anyway) look at goal setting. Here’s what I liked/learned:
1) I love that you say “Traditional goal setting is more linear and rigid and maybe we should move towards goals that are more creative and flexible” Amen sister.
2) Traditional goal setting does not cover “What you really want”.
3) Goal setting makes you live in the future; “I’ll be happy when…” Great point. This point alone makes traditional goal setting a relic that should be put to death.
You asked a couple questions:
1)What’s working for you? Glad you asked Cath,
All I do in my life is set huge goals (they are big to me) with a ridiculously short time frame attached and chase after them. With the caveat that I MUST love every moment and want so bad to reach the goal that it hurts but not give a shit if I ever make it. This is my basic strategy.
2) What is frustrating? Because I consciously choose to place big mountains in front of myself, hit a stop watch and say “Go” and then frantically try to reach the top, there is nothing that I find frustrating. I am doing this nonsense by choice. The “frustrations” are what make it interesting for me— without challenges, what’s the point?
Do certain methods work better than others? Hell Yes. But if I’m frustrated, I’m not going to perform at my best, figure out the way, or enjoy the moment. So frustration for me isn’t an option.
I will say that I’ve found that my interests change along the path, and that’s why I really like your “Scaffolding” idea. More of a framework approach to goal setting.
all in all this was an awesome article/video and I enjoyed them both immensely. Thanks!
[...] 1 Dec: Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken? [...]
Hi Cath,
I enjoyed your video post and blog on this subject, and found it stimulating and timely. Just discovered your blog and interviews and like your style.
In Myers Briggs terms I’m an INTP, with all that that means. I’d describe myself as very head oriented: I have (or had, I’m in recovery and making good progress!) a tendency to listen more to my rational brain rather than intuition and emotions. I’ve been on a personal journey for the last 10 years or so of developing a more holistic approach to the way I live life, and have been experimenting with goal setting in this context of how I can embrace my values, emotions and sense of who I am.
After years in consulting and corporate life, I’d become a goal junkie, but in an old-school left brain SMART (or is that dumb?!) way. I’d say that traditional SMART goals are a useful tool for creating meaning in groups of people working together, but it is that process that is valuable not the resulting goals per se. Once created, they date quickly as others have said. They can of course be updated, but as I’m no completer-finisher this is usually the last thing on my to-do list.
The value of SMART goal-setting to an individual varies I think. I find it useful as a mental discipline. A favourite process tool of mine is Lewin’s Force-Field Analysis (ie describe future state, current state, nature of status quo and driving/restraining forces acting for/against future state) which I think captures better the dynamic nature and complexity of any change. I like your change orientation, though the word ‘change’ itself has negative connotations and associations in some circles in corporate life.
One problem I’ve long struggled with – again in collective goal setting contexts, but also personally – is prioritisation. In my consulting and corporate career, I’ve never managed to use goals to achieve real laser-like focus on the things that really matter most. I’ve learned over time that this focus emerges, and is something I arrive at instinctively. The SMART goals never get me there, they just kick-start the process. I like the Creative Centre for Leadership’s take on leadership as a process of meaning-making, and it is in this context that I see SMART can play a role if used well.
One issue with personal goals that I find challenging is letting go. Choosing between options, alternative outcomes, deciding how to use the time I have. I know I can’t do it all. SMART doesn’t help with these questions, which is again why I like your change approach as this is more complete… but I’d be interested in your views on how to choose. Choice is the basis of any good strategy, and for personal goals I think values are a good basis for choices.
Which raises a question (sorry, a long comment I know!) on knowing. I love the work of Senge, Jaworski (Synchronicity was a great book!) and Scharmer on presencing, which is still in its infancy. I’m intrigued by the whole area of how people ‘know’ what to do. They talk about learning from the “future that wants to emerge” as an almost mystic force, though with tangible signs and dynamics that they are working to discover. In Nick Williams’ book (I saw your video interview with him which is how I discovered your site) on the work we were born to do this comes through clearly as a driving force which he calls (if I remember correctly) your calling…
A good friend Mark Burdon has long supported me with coaching, and recently we were together in a workshop he led to co-create some new thinking he’s developing. I am using this to learn more about how to ‘be who I want to be’ rather than focusing on ‘what I want to do.’ You’re so right that goals by their nature don’t support being happy.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
Tom
@Mike: Thanks for sharing your experiences with goals. I think that whole issue of “frustration” that you raise is pretty key and I’m still unpacking whether or not it’s useful. Some people seem to find it motivating, while others find it de-motivating. I guess the author of “flow” would say it’s about finding that sweet spot, where the goal is do-able, and challenging but not out of reach. Sometimes a goal can be do-able, but feel out of reach for a long time before it becomes possible (ie. while you’re building mastery).
@Tim: wow, thanks for your comment/ guest post. A lot of what you said resonated with me, and with the questions I’m asking about goal-setting at this stage. I’ll check out some of the resources you mentioned. I know Senge’s “fifth discipline” book (time for a re-read, I think!), but I’m not familiar with the others. Thanks for the recommendations
I look forward to hearing more from you, around this debate.
Cath
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Hi Cath;
Stumbled across your blog via Twitter. Found the goal setting video interesting and read the conversation between you and others. This is something I’m currently interested in as I’m in a position to make changes to what I’m doing with my time, life and future. In English that means I’m unemployed and attempting to start up a business doing what I love. But even aside from that, I’ve often had a problem with traditional goal setting as well. This isn’t my first experience with this concept. Anyhow, I decide I need to toss my comments into the pile.
Firstly, I read your SMARTEST as opposed to SMART goals and I think your version is much better. It’s more organic, more detailed, more in touch with how a real person thinks. I also think everything you put in SMARTEST is implicit in SMART – one just has to look harder for it. And since one has to look harder for it, one might miss it.
Or, maybe it’s because I’m a creative person that I can see your SMARTEST elements in SMART. The logical, linear person who is following the process with a narrow focus certainly isn’t going to find your SMARTEST elements. SMART is rather too mechanical and barren to serve the intended purpose. Your version is much more explicit. SMART might work – it has worked – but it’s understandable how it is uncomfortable for some people when you consider how unclear it can be.
On to your video – which could use a bit more amplification on the sound by the way – I could hardly hear you on my laptop.
Figuring out what you want in the first place: I agree this is a crucial step, and does seem to be ignored in the goal setting process. Counterpoint – if you don’t know what you want, how/why are you setting a goal? The real danger here, in my mind, is setting the goals that others/society have set for you and not being self-aware enough to really understand what you want. Which brings us back to what you said, “figuring out what you want in the first place”.
Narrowing of focus: I see where you are coming from on this. I think the solution is to focus for small and devoted time periods. For me, to focus – really focus in on something to the exclusion of all else is something that I can do for about 3 hours max. That’s if I’m really engaged. Realistically, an hour is a major accomplishment and I’m typically content with 45 minutes of focus on a project before I take a break.
But maybe that’s not exactly the kind of focus you are thinking about. Maybe you mean a sort of single minded pursuit that permeates your thoughts and actions all day or for extended periods of time – weeks, months, years.
I would just call that an unhealthy obsession. I’ve always had the need to spend time with a book, or sunshine, or a kitty-cat. I would agree that anyone who does choose a narrowly focused path is in trouble. I think the only goals that should be sought after in a constant way are the ones that create your overall experience of life. Not specific things to do or have or achieve – but the person you need to be in order to do the other things you want to do. As a photographer being creative, being perceptive and having fun is more important than a camera or a specific photo shoot.
It’s important for me to run and bike, but not necessarily today. It’s important for those to be part of my life on a regular basis – but I don’t have goals of running so far in so much time. I simply run when the weather is right.
Living in the future: “I’ll be happy when” is another good observation on your part. I’ve never felt that way myself. If anything I’ve felt that walking the path to the mountain top has to be just as fun, just as interesting, as the mountain top. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a goal where I was only going to be happy when it was achieved. If the process isn’t fun, I’m going to look for a way to make it fun. Or abandon that goal. Being in the present is indeed crucial.
You asked what has worked & not worked for people.
What has worked for me personally about traditional goal setting is having a deadline. Sometimes, many times, I need some pressure in order to get something completed – or started as the case may be.
What doesn’t work for me is rigid scheduling. I’ve tried actually blocking out my day, hour by hour, with what I would be doing and when I’d be doing it. Total failure. I might not feel like writing poetry at 1000, and I might not feel like running at 1400. That quickly falls apart.
What I’m working with now is a system of decided the day/night before what must be done the next day and making a list. Then I get those things done the next day. The when is flexible. This is a bit more reasonable in my mind. It also allows me to be happy in the now when I feel the need to do so, while it reminds me to spend some time working on things that might not reach full value until some time in the future.
I also have seen the wisdom in something I read in The Seven-Day Weekend. The author essentially states than planning more than 6 months ahead is a complete waste because things change so fast that you have no chance working with something that far ahead. I think this is good advice on many levels. I wouldn’t say this means you should have very general plans for more that 6 months in advance, just to avoid specific goals that far out. I intend to be alive in 10 years. I have no designs on what kind of car I’ll be driving. Goals for what I’m going to do fall into 6 months or less from now. Goals for who I’m going to be can extend far into the future.
An influence on my method might also be the fact that I think I’m both linear and creative. On the one hand I’m an electronics & computer person, I can work with computers, make fabrication drawings, plan out projects, troubleshoot and repair equipment, write boring but effective technical documentation, apply formal logic and argue philosophically. I can also write poetry, take photographers, make up card games, do theatre design, make up lyrics to other people’s songs and argue rhetorically. I believe I have a good balance of both. Someone who lacks that balance might have different challenges that I do with processes like goal setting.
In the end, I think goal setting is a tool like any other. You have to try things, take what works, discard what doesn’t and them make it yours thru creation and adaption. When the process has personal meaning to you and is altered to fit your thinking you will use it and it will work. If you try to force yourself to fit a process you learned at a seminar or read in a book, it isn’t going to work. Those things can be great resources and stimulating sources of ideas – but you have to shape it with your own hands.
No wait, that’s not the end yet. Here is the end – The context you apply goal setting in, the attitude (not my word of choice, but the best one I’ve got right now) you apply it with, the intentions you have and the person you are make the difference. The process isn’t broken (nor it flawless) that’s just an excuse. What you do with the process makes the difference.
Okay, that was a lot of babbling, some of which was probably off topic. I’ll shut up now.
@Skippy- dude, I related to so much of your mini-post/comment.
What you said about focus: 3 hours is on the high end and 1 hour-45 min is the sweet spot. I find that this is exactly where I am. Although 3 hours seems like a loooong time to me at this point.
I loved this quote and have been trying to figure out a way to express this very sentiment:
“I think the only goals that should be sought after in a constant way are the ones that create your overall experience of life. Not specific things to do or have or achieve ? but the person you need to be in order to do the other things you want to do.”
WOW. THAT IS VERY WELL PUT.
You also said: “When the process has personal meaning to you and is altered to fit your thinking you will use it and it will work” — this has also been my experience.
Great stuff man, I also just discovered Cath’s site and having a great time with this topic.
~Mike
.-= Mike Siete Cinco´s last blog ..The 21 day Challenge =-.
Mike Siete Cinco´s last blog ..The 21 day Challenge
[...] Is Traditional Goal-Setting Broken? (video post) [...]
Hello Cath:
Traditional goal setting can be frustrating however, it can certainly motivate you to through some challenging times. For example, many college students who are not really motivated to participate in this educational setting will drop, stop or fail. When they are encouraged to set goals (eg. career goals), they are more likely to persist and achieve. I like what Stephen Covey has to say about goal setting – something to the effect that one needs to take time to develop a goal… one that has meaning, a burning “yes”. So many of us set goals and spend months and years to achieve those goals only to find that we’ve place our ladders up against the wrong wall.