As someone addicted to the sense of completion and achievement (I love passing exams and completing tasks, what can I say?), the discussion around the impact of announcing goals on achievement likelihood always fascinated me. Read on if you are also interested in this topic and want to learn tips to achieve goals. For those of you who are vaguely interested, here’s the TLDR;
The idea that we are less likely to achieve goals we announce to others is partially true and, in fact, “depends” on the psychological factors at play. Instead of being too cautious not to share your goals with others, you can minimize the negative impact by sharing progress (not goals), being selective in whom you share goals with, and focusing on action-oriented goals.
Tip #1 Why Announcing Goals Can Reduce Achievement Likelihood
1. Premature Satisfaction (Social Reality Effect): When you share your goals with others, their positive reactions (e.g., encouragement or praise) can create a sense of premature accomplishment. This phenomenon, known as the “social reality effect,” may reduce your motivation to pursue the actual work needed to achieve the goal.
2. Ego Validation: Announcing goals can feed your ego, making you feel good about the idea of pursuing the goal rather than focusing on the actions required to achieve it.
3. Accountability Misfire: While accountability can motivate some, announcing a goal may create unnecessary pressure, leading to fear of failure, procrastination, or avoidance.
Tip #2 When Announcing Goals Can Help
1. Positive Social Pressure: Telling others can foster a sense of accountability, particularly if the people you share with are supportive and follow up on your progress.
2. Encouragement and Support: Sharing your goals with the right people can provide emotional support, resources, or guidance, which can boost your chances of success.
3. Clarity and Commitment: Verbalizing your goals forces you to articulate them clearly, which can strengthen your commitment.
FYI - What the Research Says
Announcing Goals Can Reduce Achievement Likelihood - A 2009 study by Peter Gollwitzer found that people who publicly declared their goals were less likely to follow through because they felt a sense of premature accomplishment.
Announcing Goals Can Help - However, other studies suggest that when goal-sharing is paired with accountability systems, it can enhance performance.
Key Factors to Consider
1. The Type of Goal:
Creative or deeply personal goals might be better kept private to maintain intrinsic motivation.
Collaborative or team-oriented goals often benefit from being shared.
2. Whom You Tell:
Sharing goals with supportive, trustworthy individuals who will hold you accountable (without judgment) is often beneficial.
3. How You Frame It:
Focus on progress rather than outcomes when discussing your goals. For example, instead of saying, “I will make an additional $10,000 by the end of 2025,” the idea is to say, “I’m working on sticking with the monthly budget while generating extra cash with my side business”
Tip #3 - My Thought
As outlined above, there are pros and cons to sharing our goals with others. My take on this topic can be summarized into 3 bullet points:
Share progress, not goals: Talk about what you’ve already done, not just what you plan to do.
Be selective: Share your goals only with people who can actively support you (e.g., accountability buddy or coach)
Focus on action-oriented goals: Frame your goals in terms of specific actions you’ll take rather than just the outcome.
Now, if you want a partner who can help you achieve your goals, note that I can be your resource. When you are ready to explore this further, please message me here.
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