3 Reasons You Don’t Achieve Your Goals

I will never forget the moment a coaching client said to me, "I don't think I know how to set goals." This honest statement from a CEO of a successful company revealed something I had noticed across many clients. However, I allowed my own bias and assumption to serve as a roadblock. Surely, a CEO would know how to set goals.

He went on to say he had stewed over his goals before our session and had written down what he thought a CEO should care about but he really wasn't excited about these goals. 

Here's what I've noticed about goal-setting. 

3 Reasons You Don't Achieve Your Goals
1. You have too many.
2. You lack accountability.
3. You have the wrong goals. 

In turn, here is what we have found works.

3 Ways To Achieve Your Goals
1. Less is best!
2. Find accountability.
3. Create values-aligned goals. 

Less is best! You are more apt to achieve your goals when you are laser focused on what’s most improatnt. Choose 1 - 3 priorities and make clear, concise, and actionable goals under each.

Accountability is key. Whether it is your boss, colleague, leadership coach, or team, communicate your goals with someone. They can help you stay on track and ask good questions when you are off track.

Values-Aligned Goals. Often when we don’t have the right goals, it is because they are not values aligned. When we know our values and who we want to be, we make goals accordingly and we are more energized to work towards them.

So what are the roadblocks? Why don’t we do this?

Our culture says more is better, do it yourself, and often we set goals because of external factors and we think we should want to achieve.  Unfortunately, the sludge toward things not authentically aligned with our truest self is neither sustainable, energizing, or exciting. Instead goals collect dust and you are left with another year of feeling lackluster about your achievements. So what if you changed your beliefs around goal-setting and did it differently this year?