New Year, New Intentions: Rethinking Goal-Setting for Success
Have you ever set New Year's resolutions only to find it forgotten or derailed by February? I know I have. We often fall into the trap of creating ambitious strategies and detailed plans at the start of the year. Dr. Katy Milkman’s research on this topic introduced the “Fresh Start” as the allure of starting over each year with fresh new goals.
However, these well-intentioned strategies often miss a critical element – the underlying intention. When change becomes the only constant in our lives, the traditional approach to goal-setting can leave us feeling lost, frustrated, and disappointed.
But what if we started with our intentions? What if we allow our deeper purposes to inform our strategies?
This post explores the transformative power of intention-driven goal-setting. Intentions, not rigid strategies, should be at the heart of our professional goals. By the end of this read, you’ll discover a more adaptable and resilient way of planning that aligns core values and vision with the realities of change. You'll learn to set goals that not only withstand the winds of change but also propel you forward in your career and personal growth. I've also included two resources that can help guide you through the next year: YearCompass and the SoulScape Journal.
The Pitfall of Strategy-First Goal Setting
We’re often told to set goals based on well-defined strategies. This approach, while logical, hinges on a fundamental assumption: that our circumstances, resources, and objectives will remain constant over time. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
Traditionally, we're taught to plan meticulously – setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This method is practical and gives a clear roadmap. However, life's inherent unpredictability often renders these detailed strategies less effective than we hope.
The main challenge of a strategy-first approach is its rigidity. When unexpected changes occur – whether in the market, our personal lives, or within our teams – these rigid plans can quickly become obsolete. Adherence to a fixed strategy in a dynamic environment can lead to missed opportunities, unnecessary stress, and a sense of failure when goals aren’t met as originally planned.
Consider the tech industry, where rapid innovation is the norm. Companies that cling too tightly to their original strategies often struggle to adapt to new technologies or market shifts. Similarly, in our personal lives, rigid adherence to a specific career path can blind us to unexpected opportunities that might align better with our evolving passions and skills.
It’s important not to be hard on ourselves. Many have experienced the frustration of a well-crafted plan falling apart. The key is not in condemning the practice of planning, but in understanding its limitations and learning to adapt. It's about acknowledging there's more to achieving our goals than following a fixed roadmap. In the following sections, we’ll explore how shifting our focus to intentions can provide the flexibility and resilience needed for lasting success.
The Shift to Intention-Driven Goal Setting
Intention-driven goal setting starts with asking why – why do you want to achieve a particular goal? What larger things is it connected to? This approach places your core values and purpose at the forefront, making goals more meaningful and adaptable. Unlike strategy-first goals that might become irrelevant due to external changes, intention-driven goals are resilient and can be pursued through various strategies.
By prioritizing intentions, you create a compass that guides your decisions and actions. This doesn't mean abandoning strategy; rather, it involves aligning your strategies with your core intentions. This alignment ensures that even when external circumstances change, your goals remain relevant and achievable, as they resonate with your fundamental values and aspirations. Imagine a learning and development team that had a strategy-based goal to "increase employee engagement through traditional in-person training sessions." However, as the work environment shifted towards more hybrid models, the goal faced significant challenges. The team, instead of clinging to their original plan, revisited their core intention: to foster continuous learning and professional growth among employees.
Adapting their strategy to serve this intention, they innovatively shifted to a mix of digital learning platforms, virtual workshops, and self-directed resources. This pivot not only maintained their goal of enhancing employee skills but also increased accessibility and engagement in a diverse, changing work environment. Their success was rooted not in a rigid strategy, but in their clear, unwavering intention to support employee development in whatever form it needed to take.
This example illustrates how an intention-focused approach empowers teams to be innovative and responsive. By anchoring their goals in enduring intentions, this team was able to navigate changes without losing sight of their ultimate objective, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of intention-driven goal setting.
Practical Steps to Implement Intention-Driven Goal Setting
Transitioning to intention-driven goal setting may seem daunting, but it's a journey worth considering. Here are some practical steps, coupled with examples, to guide you in the process:
Assessing and Defining Your Core Intentions: Start by identifying what truly matters to you or your team. What are the core values and driving forces behind your goals? This reflection is the foundation of intention-driven goal setting.
Example: A learning and development team originally set a goal to "Increase employee participation in training programs by 20%." By reassessing, they shift their focus to the intention behind this goal: "Empower employees with skills for future challenges." This broader intention opens up a range of strategies beyond just increasing participation numbers.
Aligning Your Strategies with These Intentions: Once your intentions are clear, reevaluate your strategies. Ask yourself, "Does this strategy serve my core intention?"
Example: An individual's strategy-based goal of "Attend five industry conferences annually" evolves into an intention-based goal of "Continuously stay informed and connected in my field." This shift allows for more flexible approaches, like virtual conferences or networking events, especially when travel or time constraints arise.
Example: A team's goal to "Implement a new learning platform by Q3" becomes "Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation." It could mean a new learning platform is needed, but reframing the goal from a specific tool implementation to a broader, more impactful vision allows the team flexibility.
Tips for Monitoring and Adjusting Goals as Needed: Regular check-ins are crucial. Reflect on your progress and be open to adjusting your strategies to stay aligned with your intentions.
Set regular review periods: Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly, regularly assess the alignment between your strategies and intentions.
Be flexible and adaptive: Embrace change as an opportunity to innovate and grow.
Seek feedback: Engage with your team or peers to gain diverse perspectives and ideas.
By considering these steps, you'll not only set goals that are meaningful and adaptable but also cultivate a mindset that thrives on growth and resilience. Remember, the journey towards intention-driven goal setting is as rewarding as the destination itself.
Resources
If you'd like some tools to help navigate the upcoming year, I've included two helpful resources:
YearCompass: a downloadable resource that prompts you with questions for the past year that was and the upcoming year that will be. Learn more here https://yearcompass.com/gb/
Let's reflect on where this journey has led us. We started by recognizing the challenges of traditional SMART goal setting - its fixed, transactional nature that often falls short in the face of change. This approach, while structured and clear, can inadvertently lead us away from what truly matters when life's unpredictable tides shift our course.
The new paradigm proposed isn't about discarding the concept of SMART goals but rather evolving it. It's about letting our intentions, our North Star, guide the goal-setting process. This shift from a rigid, strategy-first mindset to an intention-driven approach is transformative. It offers flexibility, aligns with our core values, and adapts to the ever-changing landscape of our professional and personal lives.
Intention-driven goal setting is not just about achieving targets; it's about embarking on a journey that is meaningful and fulfilling. It’s about setting goals that are not only achievable but also resonate deeply with our aspirations and values. This approach turns goal setting into a dynamic, ongoing process that grows and changes with us, ensuring that our goals are always in service of our true purpose.
As we step into a new year, it's time to shift our focus from rigid strategies to flexible, intention-driven goals. Intentions can illuminate the path, guiding us towards goals that are not only successful in the traditional sense but also deeply fulfilling. This is the essence of intention-driven goal setting – a journey towards goals that truly reflect who we are and who we aspire to be.
Stay Curious!
Colt
About Colt Alton
Hey! I'm Colt. By trade and training, I help develop people and organizations. Subscribe below to follow my thinking on building impactful learning experiences, learning technology and product development, and whatever else is on my mind. Thanks for visiting, thanks for reading.
