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Tobi Ogunnaike's avatar

I have an unpublished draft where I was ranting about our goal-setting and productivity culture. We have career goals, money goals, exercise goals, nutrition goals etc...There's this desire to move forward and optimise our lives. In one way, goals help us move forward towards "good" desired outcomes. But they're not the tool for every challenge. I found this HBS paper that describes the downsides of goalsetting (https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/09-083.pdf) Maybe I'll write this essay one day

Sometimes, I struggle with balancing having enough goals vs being more free form. I remember being in a career development conversation with a manager in the past. And they asked what I wanted to do in 10 years and to work backwards from that. So we could plan out my steps. I barely know what I want to eat tomorrow....and yet I'm supposed to know that??

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Martin Prior's avatar

Hi Toni,

You’re right, it can be a struggle knowing where that balance is. I think if you focus on habits and building resilience then when things change you are able to adapt better.

The world is always changing around us so sticking rigidly to set targets can hamper us.

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David Ferrers's avatar

Martin, I completely get why you dislike goals, but you have to have direction and it helps motivation if you have milestones against which you can measure progress. It sounds like you have had some poor leaders in your time at work. This is unfortunately far too common, but it was also the opportunity that I have cashed in on for the last 25 years by making myself into a leadership coach.

The problem is many workplaces is that when a promotion opportunity comes up bosses tend to look at who is best at what they are doing now and offer them a team leader role. But being good at doing is not the same as being good at leading.

Anyway, in view of what you say about your ambitions for your Substack may I suggest that you give yourself a mission.

Just a thought. Hope it helps.

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Martin Prior's avatar

Hi David

Great challenge and great suggestion. I have some vague thoughts on direction but you’re right. Some more tangible goals may help to check progress against.

Will have a think.

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David Ferrers's avatar

Martin I completely get why you dislike goals, but you have to have direction and it helps motivation if you have milestones against which you can measure progress. It sounds like you have had some poor leaders in your time at work. This is unfortunately far too common, but it was also the opportunity that I have cashed in on for the last 25 years by making myself into a leadership coach.

The problem is many workplaces is that when a promotion opportunity comes up bosses tend to look at who is best at what they are doing now and offer them a team leader role. But being good at doing is not the same as being good at leading.

Anyway, in view of what you say about your ambitions for your Substack may I suggest that you give yourself a mission.

Just a thought. Hope it helps.

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Michael Woudenberg's avatar

Great insight!

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Martin Prior's avatar

Thanks Michael.

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Mark Dykeman's avatar

Hi Martin. This is timely because I'm looking into setting up an accountability group for my own newsletter for Resolutions, good habits, etc. There's a lot of thinking out there that supports habits over goals so I get what you are saying.

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Martin Prior's avatar

Hi mark,

Yes, I saw your post this morning. Great minds ay.

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Coffee Times's avatar

Thank you Martin. Appreciate the mention. We have similar style and I like your newsletter too.

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Martin Prior's avatar

No worries Winston. Hope you’re enjoying Sydney.

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