Comments on: Why goal setting gives me the heebie jeebies

By: Christoph Dollis

Christoph Dollis — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:54:09 +0000

Fantastic observation.

It’s so annoying to have some 57-year old manager earning 70,000 annually by working massive numbers of hours insist on you setting absolute targets with numbers and deadlines on your first day on the job (when you know little about the specifics of the business’s market) because goal setting “works”.

Oh really?

When my manager has their mortgage paid off on the one and only piece of property they own I’ll listen.

In the meantime, I’ll follow (for example) the numerous kick-ass CEOs out there who rock the boat, work hard while having fun, live entertaining interesting lives, do stuff outside of work, have families, and who haven’t lectured everyone on the magic power of the written goal, if but only you can write it well.

Now I have nothing against an employee, manager, or anyone aiming for the stars. However to say one has any idea just exactly how many units will be sold, by when, without a heck of a lot of experience and some hard, personal data to back it up is simply madness.

If the manager has such numbers at their disposal, they should share rather than expect their new rep to not only defy all previous experience out of sheer exuberance (which could actually happen), but somehow to accurately predict things.

By: jc

jc — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:05:48 +0000

I think the goal-setters are a subset of the self-improvement gurus. To the extent goals serve to motivate folks, that’s wonderful, just leave room for those of us who are not motivated by that methodology. They write and talk as if goals are an absolute! I’m with you Fi, I seriously doubt Jesus sat down and wrote out specific, measurable goals. As the book “Blink” so aptly illustrated, so much of what we do as humans is not due to rational, pre-meditated decision making. The next swing of the pendelum may well be an anlaysis of the massive influx of people who who were crushed by goal setting methodologies and ended up in therapy!

By: Mark Granlund

Mark Granlund — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:35:28 +0000

I love making lists, but hate making goals. Lists feel accomplishable. Goals seem to depend far too much on others and fate.

By: Christine Myers

Christine Myers — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:17:49 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with goals: love the planning, get stuck on the accomplishing. In hopes to move the stuck a bit, I’ve decided to put my goals into a “Magical Map for 2010.” I figure a guide leaves room for veering off the beaten path and having adventures (aka failures).

But goals are only good if they serve moving you toward your highest good, so it’s probably best for some people to just call bullshit and press on!

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:42:27 +0000

Not setting goals consciously is fine if you trust your subconscious to set your goals for you. Not setting goals at all is impossible.

By: Sarah Jayne

Sarah Jayne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:49:39 +0000

Oh that’s so funny – thank you Fi

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:19:19 +0000

Yay! No goals! Seriously, I keep seeing the word “goals” and Freudian-slipping it in my mind into the word “ghouls.” Appropriate. Yes.
Every time I try to set goals, I end up not working toward them. So no more goals. I just…do some stuff.

By: Lisa Baldwin

Lisa Baldwin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:46:35 +0000

Yes! Goals bore me senseless. There’s nothing like a steaming pile of specifics and measurables to kill the romance between me and an otherwise attractive idea. I’m with you and Leonardo on this one. x

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:01:47 +0000

Wow – thanks, Fi, you put into words what I’ve been thinking about!

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:24:51 +0000

Damn right. Goals are just a way to make yourself feel like shit if you don’t achieve them, and to deaden a sense of accomplishment if you do.