Nigel 
November 20th,2009
Wander at random or choose a direction?
This was a search question which brought someone here recently. It needs answering.
The obvious answer is that having clear goals helps us focus on what most needs our attention today if we are to make progress. Done right it will also boost motivation. Properly implemented it will guide how we set about some tasks,and how we prioritise. But there’s more to it than that. Sadly.
Who sets the target?
The targets we set for ourselves are likely to be far more effective than those imposed on us,especially if there is no consultation. This is partly because internal motivation is more powerful than external (see here),and partly because effective goals are personal and match the person involved. You need to have ownership of your goals. They need to fit who you are.
The trouble is other people may have so poor an understanding of how goals work that they set them for you badly or for the wrong reasons.
What is it intended to achieve?
Our UK government sets targets for people because it thinks this is a good idea,and I guess because it thinks this makes them look more dynamic. I sometimes wonder what the individuals responsible think they’re doing. Government targets often seem to have been set by rolling dice,and too often include no plan for how to achieve them.
A friend’s son enjoys running pubs,and soon had one brewery’s targets system figured out. He would take over a failing pub and in the first year reach his imposed sales targets easily. The targets were then raised. Presumably their purpose is to motivate,but without costing the brewery too much. The second year he would reach the harder targets. Then he would move on because targets for the third year would be unreasonable. He could put in a lot of extra work and skill and yet still not get his bonus. His employer wants to motivate by offering a reward for good work. That’s sensible. Unfortunately it misunderstands the psychology of effective targets.
And then there’s the target which is proudly set to impress people and postpone the nagging. Again our government here in the UK,and I suspect all governments,are experienced. “You want this done?”they say to us,“You’re right,it must become a high priority. We will make sure it is sorted by [randomly selected future year]. Aren’t we great!”Trouble is they then shove their target off on other people who may have neither the skills nor the resources to achieve it. Come [randomly selected future year] the media point out that the target is not met,so a later date is set. It seems that rarely do politicians setting targets follow through by ensuring the right people have the right resources and a workable plan to follow through on the promise.
The best targets are set by ourselves because there is something worthwhile we can achieve if we really put our mind to it.
This article is #9 in the effective goal-setting series. The first in the series is here.
Yes,of course the photo was taken on the North York Moors.
