When Goal Setting Lets You Down

It was a dubious form of punishment. The small cafe was subtly lit, its distressed brick walls and retro furnishings creating an unhurried mood. It was quiet too, the background music contemporary but gentle. The place seemed a world away from the glaring sun and unbridled cacophony of the holiday resort’s teeming main street just half a block away.

The first customer, Shane ordered his espresso and withdrew to a comfortable nook at the front window. He smiled to himself as his coffee arrived. If I’m going to be banished from the beach, he thought, there could be worse places to be sent.

But I’m here to think, he reminded himself. Lyn is right. I’ve been crusty since we got here and it’s not fair on her. After all, this is a rare fortnight where we actually get to sail along beside each other rather than pass as ships in the night. The business is closed for a month. The weather’s awesome. What am I so grumpy about?

He knew the answer to that question already. It had been hovering about him since they shut up shop before Christmas. The goals, he thought. All those goals I set for myself a year ago and not one of them met. What sort of half-baked excuse for a business owner am I?

We missed our growth target by two percent. We only introduced eight new products instead of ten. Productivity improved by three percent, not four. The staff averaged three training days instead of five and I only did half the personal development I had planned.

Here I was thinking we were going well, I was going well. I’d even achieved my fitness goals. And then, on that last day, nothing added up. All these shortfalls appeared. Talk about finishing on a low!

Shane’s absorption was broken by the sounds of a bevy of kids passing the front of the cafe. All bags and boogie boards, swimsuits, sun hats and screams of anticipation as they half ran, half stumbled towards the beach like a pack of over-excited puppies.

Shane caught the eye of the cafe owner and they shared a knowing smile. “Kids,” said the owner as he turned back to his work. “They know how to enjoy themselves.”

Yes, thought Shane. And not a concrete, written down goal amongst them.

And suddenly it came to him. Why have I let myself be shackled by my goals? Yes, they’re important, but they are just sign posts. They give me – us – some direction. But does it really matter that we didn’t meet them by the end of the year?

The tap on this new line of thinking opened further. Why do we place so much importance in what is just one arbitrary date along the journey anyway? Does it really matter that we won’t meet these goals until a bit later. We’re successful after all, and enjoying what we’re doing. Aren’t those important in themselves?

For a few moments, Shane stared into his now empty cup. He turned his gaze out the window and up the lane towards the beach. It’s been a good year, he thought to himself finally, and there’s a good chance this year will be too. I should be celebrating my success, not crying over my shortfalls.

Thanks Lyn, he thought as he rose to leave. I think your ‘punishment’ might have worked.

Simple Thoughts on When Goal Setting Lets You Down

To have no goals is to be aimless, but to put too much emphasis on them is to forget to enjoy the journey. As always, it’s about balance. Some thought starters for this year’s goal setting:

Stick to two or three clear, simple-to-understand goals. Make sure they’re specific.
Make the goals shared – with your colleagues, and with your team. That way you can celebrate the wins – and losses – together.
Make sure all goals are measurable, not only at the end but along the way. Track progress and avoid surprises.