Leadership Lessons Blog

Goal setting and Accountabilty

  

  

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Every January, I make a concerted effort to set a weight loss goal. Every year, I dread the thought of eating the last piece of apple pie after the holidays, so that I can hit the gym three times a week.  About mid-February, when 6:00 A.M. arrives and the temperature is below zero, I find it very easy to find excuses for why I don't need to go to the gym today and why just ONE piece of pie isn't going to kill me!  Sound familiar?  I bet it does. 

In a few weeks, I'm going to be leading a workshop on goal setting and action planning.  I want to be able to leave workshop participants with easy to use suggestions that can be implemented the minute they leave the workshop.  I tried to extract what makes goal setting and action planning successful.  I contribute goal achievement to four key success factors:  passion, motivation, accountability and incentives. 

Passion is an interesting step in the process.  Ask yourself; is this a goal you are setting for yourself or for someone else?  If it is not a goal you can relate to or derive some personal benefit from, then you may not be personally invested in achieving that goal. Passion means LOVING what you are doing to the degree that NOTHING stands in the way of accomplishing the goal. (Not even below zero temperatures in February). 

Motivation is also a key to achieving goals.  What is motivation?  We often hear that some people are SELF-motivated.  They find their own good reasons for sticking to a goal or accomplishing a task.  Others find intrinsic value from setting a goal that is a means to an end.  A successful interview that leads to a job, a training program that leads to a promotion a coaching session that leads to a better golf game.  Simply put, motivation means you are willing to take ACTION. 

Accountability is the make or break for achieving a goal.  Is there someone or something checking in with you to make sure you are following a prescribed path and encouraging you when you just don't think you can take one more step?  Remember that everything around us is energy.  In order to sustain achieving the goal you need to be held accountable. 

The final step in goal achievement is having a strong incentive.  In some cases it can be as simple as fitting in to a smaller size dress or getting a good grade on a test.  For others, it may an incentive that involves financial gains.  The key is to define incentives along the way to achieving your goal.  Small rewards provide an impetus to continue toward the goal.  You don't get discouraged because you are being rewarded along the way. 

Finally, don't beat yourself up!  If you falter along the way, look to those people who are there to support you for encouragement.  Goal achievement and action planning is not something you want or can do alone.