Why Goal Setting Can Fail?

What is Goal-Setting Theory?

“Goal-setting theory refers to the effects of setting goals on subsequent performance. Researcher Edwin Locke found that individuals who set specific, difficult goals performed better than those who set general, easy goals. Locke proposed five basic principles of goal-setting: clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity” ( Wieland, 2013).

The five principles of goal setting (Cuofano, 2021).

Clarity

Motivating goals are clear and brief goals. A lack of clarity means ambiguity which makes goals hard to understand. Most individuals utilize the SMART system of specific, measurable, achievable, related, and time-bound goal setting.

Challenge

Defining the accurate level of challenge is a balancing act. Goals will be challenging enough that reaching them feels like a genuine achievement. But, they must not be so challenging that the individual becomes daunted at the prospect of achieving them and quits.

Commitment

This will be created by sharing the goal with someone else to increase accountability. Employee commitment will also be increased through early buy-in where rewards are offered for hitting milestones. Visualization of the benefits of reaching the goal can also foster commitment.

Feedback

As we observed earlier, feedback is critical to Locke’s goal-setting theory. Both positive and negative feedback would be received regularly. To this end, periodic meetings would be scheduled to monitor progress and provide guidance where necessary.

Task-complexity

Confirm that the task is as uncomplicated as possible. If this is not feasible, then complex goals would be broken down into smaller parts. It is also important that individuals be realistic and give themselves sufficient time to learn complex concepts.

 

Advantages and disadvantages of Locke’s goal-setting theory of motivation

Advantages (Cuofano, 2021).

Task prioritization. Employees who have mastered the skill of effective goal setting spend time on the most essential tasks first. Staffs who do not squander time on meaningless tasks drive the business forward with purpose and momentum.

Self-awareness. Since Locke’s model advocates continuous constructive feedback, the individual receives important insights on their specific strengths and weaknesses.

Direction. Important goal setting involves creating a plan for the future. Without direction, the individual or the business has no perfect idea of what constitutes success.

Disadvantages (Cuofano, 2021).

Time-consuming and expensive. Some goals require a high degree of planning to ensure that the level of challenge and complexity is demanding, however not too demanding. Some businesses can inevitably choose to set simpler, more general goals instead.

Performance pressure. Irrespective of whether a goal is achievable, some employees can not be able to perform under pressure. Conversely, others might become so obsessed with high performance that they develop tunnel vision. They might miss new opportunities or fail to identify threats ahead of time.

Why Goal Setting Can Fail (Picincu, 2020).

Setting aggressive goals will affect your organization as a whole. Your employees might end up making mistakes, lose their motivation or feel stressed out. If your goal is too ambitious, you might lose the joy that made you want to get started in the first place. After months of hard work, you might feel like you're on a constant uphill climb and eventually give up.

While it's true that goals guide your focus, they might also have the opposite effect. Having too many objectives, for example, will disrupt your focus and drain your energy. It's not uncommon for small business owners to wear multiple hats and try to accomplish a million things at the same time. This frequently leads to mental fatigue and burnout.

References

 Cuofano, G. (2021) Locke’s goal-setting theory of motivation [Online] Available at:  https://fourweekmba.com/lockes-goal-setting-theory/ [Accessed on 10^th April, 2022]

scoopskiller. (2018) Goal Setting Theory [Online] Available at:  https://scoopskiller.com/management-materials/human-resource-management/goal-setting-theory/ [Accessed on 18th April, 2022]

Wieland, J. (2013) What is Goal-Setting Theory [Online] Available at:  https://gostrengths.com/what-is-goal-setting-theory/ [Accessed on 18th April, 2022]

Picincu, A. (2020) Advantages and Disadvantages of Goal Setting [Online] Available at:  https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-goal-setting-1881.html [Accessed on 18th April, 2022]