Another Way of Looking at Goal Setting
Posted January 14th, 2013
Most of us routinely set goals. It has always been assumed that setting goals is a necessary and effective way to achieve our desires. It helps us focus our work and energizes us.
Indeed, it has become such common practice, such a fundamental thing to do, supported by so many different sources, that no one would think to contradict it. And yet, more recent research is beginning to show some cracks in the armor of goal setting. It has disadvantages as well as advantages, and some business analysts are now saying that we may need to reorient our thinking about goals somewhat to avoid the pitfalls.
One of those people is Peter Bregman, who points out that the advantages of setting goals has been hyped a little too much, while the disadvantages have been neglected. He points to research that spells out some of the problems with goals, including a focus that tends to become so narrow it causes the person to neglect other areas, a rise in unethical behavior, taking imprudent risks, and even causing a decrease in a person’s motivation.
He gives as an example a productivity goal for Sears’ auto repair staff of bringing in $147 for every hour of work. The goal did motivate the employees, but not in the way the store wanted – it motivated them to overcharge customers.
So, Bregman asks, if we want to get away from goals, what should we do instead? We still need something to aid us in setting a direction, something to push us onward. Instead of goals, Bregman says we should identify what he calls areas of focus.
Areas of focus put the emphasis in a different place – rather than at the end, or the result – but on the process of getting there. He uses sales as an example. A sales goal might involve something such as reaching a certain amount in new business, while an area of focus would involve more conversations with prospects.
You make areas of focus by coming up with things you want to spend your time doing, or by considering where you can make best use of your time. After that, things pretty much take care of themselves, he says. It’s all about focusing on the tasks rather than the outcome. You would think that without a goal, things wouldn’t get done, but that’s not true. They do, and often without the stress induced by meeting a goal.
If one of your goals in 2013 is a new job, focus on calling or sending an e-mail to a recruiter at Bayside Solutions. We have many temporary, temporary-to-hire and even direct-hire opportunities with some of the San Francisco area’s top employers. Contact us today.
