Hello January — traditionally a time to set goals and expectations for the coming year. Make no mistake, setting goals is a powerful way to bring about change in our lives, and we often start with a clear picture of what we want to achieve — the GOAL. This could be significant weight loss, a completed novel, or a major career milestone. While knowing your objective is important, focusing solely on the outcome (goal) can many times be counterproductive.
I suggest that an effective approach to goal setting is to change things up a bit and shift your focus from the result to the actions and behaviors you need to adopt to get you there.
Outcome Goals vs. Behavior Goals
Let’s break down the two main types of goals.
An outcome goal centers on the result. It answers the question: “What do I want?”
For example:
- Lose 20 pounds.
- Write a book.
These goals are great for inspiration, but they have a key weakness. You don’t have complete control over the outcome. Market factors, energy levels, and unexpected life events can all influence your results, regardless of your effort.
A behavior goal, on the other hand, focuses on your actions. It answers the question: “What will I do consistently?” This is where you have 100% control.
Let’s translate the outcome goals from above into behavior goals:
- To lose 20 pounds: Strength train three times per week and hit 10,000 steps daily.
- To write a book: Write 500 words every morning before checking email.
Do you see the difference? You can’t force the scale to drop by a certain number on a specific day, but you can choose to do your workout. You can’t guarantee a publishing deal, but you can commit to writing those 500 words each morning.
Why Behaviors Make the Biggest Impact
The path to achieving any significant goal is paved with small, consistent actions. Your behaviors are the building blocks of your success. Without the right behaviors in place, an outcome goal is little more than a wish. It lacks a concrete plan for execution.
Reality is, it’s the behaviors you repeat day in and day out that determine your long-term success. So, while it’s wonderful (and inspiring) to dream big with outcome goals, make sure you translate those dreams into the daily actions (behaviors and habits) you can control. This process-oriented approach reduces the pressure of a big, intimidating outcome and empowers you to focus on what you can do right now. This is how real, lasting change will happen.
