Setting Goals? Get an Attitude!
“Alea iacta est” (the die is cast) Julius Caesar is claimed to have said as he led his army across the Rubicon River in northern Italy in 49 BC, effectively declaring war against the forces of General Pompey. There was no turning back.
In a similar, though less dramatic way, we all cross a point of no return every time we decide to take action to achieve a goal. Until we cross our inner Rubicon, we are not committed to action, making it unlikely that we will take the steps necessary to achieve our goals.
The right attitude
One of the best ways to commit to action is to cultivate the right attitude. By attitude, I mean the way you think about and evaluate your attempts to achieve your goals. Attitude is a mental position, a posture, the way you see yourself interacting with and moving through the world.
A growth mindset, the belief that we can and will improve through effort, encourages us to persevere and try new approaches.
Goals that empower us to act share three characteristics
Approach
The goal is phrased in terms of what you want to do more of (approach) rather than what you want to stop doing (avoid). For example, “I will take a short break every hour” is more likely to motivate you than “I will stop pushing myself so hard.”
Research shows that simply thinking about a positive outcome increases your chances of achieving it. Spend time visualizing yourself accomplishing your goal. Better yet, write yourself a private “letter from the future” describing how you will feel when you succeed.
Control
The goal is within your control. This doesn't mean that it won't be challenging, but rather that you believe that with hard work it is possible to achieve the goal. A goal can only “stretch” so far before it breaks.
Setting SMART goals helps ensure that you are in control. SMART goals contain specific and measurable criteria that make it easier to know when you are on track and to take corrective action if you are not. If you are a team leader, a goal like “I will meet with each of my team members once a week” is more effective than “I will spend more time with my team.”
Positive
The goal is associated with positive emotions. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio claims that we use our gut reactions to evaluate decision options. A goal that triggers a positive reaction makes you “light up” when you think about it. And you are more likely to take the action necessary to succeed.
Pay attention to your feelings and physical reactions when considering goals. Learn to trust your “gut” in areas of expertise. Your experience has given you a rich emotional memory that will help you make quick and accurate decisions. Gary Klein, a psychologist who studies decision making, found that expert firefighters use their gut reactions when deciding whether it is safe to enter a burning building.
Reflection questions
What are my attitudes towards success and failure? Do I expect / need / want to succeed? Do anything less than 100 percent is not good enough?
Where and how did I develop these attitudes? Do they help or hinder my development?
Are my goals framed as approach goals, i.e., something I want to do more of?
How do I feel when I imagine myself working towards and/ or achieving my goals?
What experiences can I draw on to activate my growth mindset? When have I been successful after putting in my 10,000 hours?
Who can I talk to about what enables them to act on their goals?
References
Dweck, C. (2016, January 13). What having a “growth mindset” actually means. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means.
Moffitt, D. (2023, September 19). What is SMART Goals? 2023's A How-To Guide. Kumospace. Retrieved from https://www.kumospace.com/blog/smart-goal.
Storch, M. (2004, December). Crossing your personal Rubicon. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/crossing-your-personal-ru/.
Image: Crossing the Rubicon. Jacob Abbott, 1849. Public Domain.
