“If you’re not happy until you’ve ticked that box, you’ve got a sad life until it’s done.”
That line hit me when I heard it — because in business, it’s easy to tie all our satisfaction to the end result.
As January arrives, many leaders and teams are setting strategic intentions for the year ahead. Establishing clear goals is essential for business performance and growth, but how we set them determines whether they drive progress or create unnecessary pressure.
In my view, goal setting can become counterproductive if it’s overly focused on outcomes. Some objectives — a sales milestone, a contract win, a market launch — depend on variables outside our control. When success is defined only by final results, we risk adopting a binary mindset: either we win or we fail.
This approach can narrow our perspective and reduce motivation. If success only counts when the end target is reached, we overlook the value of learning, adaptation, and incremental improvement along the way.
A more effective strategy is to focus on improvement rather than perfection. Monitor progress relative to your starting point — not against a static finish line. This creates a sense of direction, builds momentum, and enables leaders to recognize and celebrate meaningful progress throughout the year.
Regular reflection and course correction are equally important. Reviewing performance, adjusting tactics, and refining key metrics ensures your team remains agile and aligned with the bigger vision.
Of course, goals should still challenge your capabilities. If objectives are too easy to achieve with minimal effort, they won’t deliver growth or engagement. The most productive goals stretch people and systems while leaving room to acknowledge progress and learning.
The most valuable business goals balance ambition with adaptability — motivating teams to perform at their best while maintaining perspective and resilience. When success is measured not only by results but also by progress, every step forward strengthens your business and your people.
Lean into what you want to achieve, how you want to get there and who is going to help you get there.
Get in touch with Leah to book a call to find your solution
