Why don’t we achieve our goals?

Why don’t we achieve our goals? Exploring the ‘R’ in SMART

Watch Video

To be honest I’ve not paid much attention to the ‘R‘ in SMART Goal Setting. That is, making sure that the goals are REALISTIC. Until I found myself not achieving some big goals. Particularly within the timeframes that I had set. Perhaps you’ve experienced this in the frantic lead up to the end of last year?

Listen to the Coaching Cafe podcasts

Being realistic gets in the way

‘Being too realistic gets in the way of achieving a big vision’. That was a mantra that I used to follow in the past. Unfortunately, I could be known to scowl at people who would try to be ‘too realistic’. Especially, when I was coming up with big plans.

And I do say IN THE PAST. Thankfully not anymore.

Set big goals

We need to set big goals. We look at this extensively throughout our coaching programs. At the same time ensuring that the goals are realistic and achievable.

Maybe you are doing Feb-fast?

Perhaps you’ve set goals at the beginning of the year?

Alternatively, you’ve been a bit stuck for motivation around goals?

Or have only just now had the chance to start thinking about your goals?

Whatever your motivation it’s good timing to take a fresh look at the value of the ‘R’ in SMART. Particularly, how this might benefit your own performance or the performance of your team or clients.

Realistic – a definition

A quick look at Google Dictionary has the following definitions:

(1) having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected. “I thought we had a realistic chance of winning”

(2) representing things in a way that is accurate and true to life. “a realistic human drama”

If we break the definitions down, we can see the value in being more realistic.

We are:

Turning our goals into the practical and sensible
Shaping our goals into a plan; and breaking things down into achievable pieces (the W in GROW)

Being realistic doesn’t need to be limiting

In addition to this, the second part of the definition says: ‘accurate and true to life’. It doesn’t need to mean that our goals are limited. As a result, we can think about realistic meaning:

Stating the facts
Thinking things through
Being true to yourself, or being your best self

The link between being realistic and high performance

With this in mind, we can see the link between being realistic and high performance.

We can build high performance by being realistic. This means:

Breaking things down (if goal is too big, fear of failure etc)
Identifying measurable chunks
Certainly, motivation comes from small wins
Alternatively, someone tells you ‘That is unrealistic’, and this spurs you on to high performance!
Similarly, if something was unrealistic in hindsight we can modify and adapt

It’s not uncommon to set unrealistic goals. Specifically, to push you out of your comfort zone. However, we would see this more as a vision. Where the high-performance kicks in is to take this vision and turn it into realistic and tangible steps to move forward.

Some food for thought 🙂

Enjoy your coaching.

FREE Coaching Cafe Webinar

Every week our team of experts present “Coaching Cafe” webinar with topics for Managers, Leaders, Business Owners, and everyone who wants to be a better workplace coach, leading their teams to higher productivity, better outcomes and a happier, healthier workplace.

Join us this Friday for FREE. Register now.

Our programs

Coaching Culture Certification

Advanced Coaching Certification

Certificate IV in Workplace & Business Coaching

Coaching course Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (10834NAT)

Diploma of Organisational Coaching

Leader as Coach

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Using the ZOOM meeting worked really well including the breakout session. A terrific and engaging course, I enjoyed it immensely.

Helen Innes

I loved it! It gave me everything I was hoping for (confidence, a framework and many lenses to consider) and more!

Sarah Woodcock

It is an excellent program that can be adapted to any area of a workplace. It will assist me with all my communications with other people, delivered by a very passionate facilitator, easy to listen to, flexible and attentive to the class. I am thoroughly energised by what I have learnt so far.

Alexandra Kirk

This is the best program I have ever participated in. The Friday webinars have been great to help me embed the information I have learned. I am really appreciative of everyone that works at Open Door Coaching and the care and effort they put into helping everyone that joins the program.

Amy ShieldsVictoria

My workplace skills and capabilities have taken a very positive turn. Where I would get exhausted or overwhelmed by difficult work relationships, I now am equipped and confident to manage these relationships and use some of the models I have learned to get positive outcomes in our interactions.

Rebecca BlurtonNew South Wales

I thought the online format via ZOOM worked well and for people outside of capital cities, it is a much more affordable and less disruptive way of undertaking the training.

Steven FordNew South Wales

The course has really enhanced and further developed my skillset. What a phenomenal four days for the Zoom face to face part of the course and amazing, quick turnaround on assessment of online modules.

Mike WilliamsonVictoria

I have confidence in my ability to coach others. My skills have grown significantly and I am so much more conscious of not responding to my team with solutions with a great toolkit to support me. This coaching course has changed my behaviour significantly and positively in my life. Where once I loved solving others problems I now love seeing others solve their own problems.

Sarah ProudfordNew South Wales

Great work, this course is amazing and definitely supports me in my goals. I have always wanted to make a difference and found coaching to be more beneficial than mentoring to support an individual to take responsibility for their own development and to move forward in their goals.

Royston DouglasNew South Wales

Since starting the program, my work role has not changed, but I have developed as a leader in my ability to develop myself and others. I developed an ability to detect “below the line” thinking, and to develop narrative to move above the line. My listening and questioning skills have grown, and my ability to detect opportunities for growth in self and others.

James Blagg South Australia

I feel I have the skills to better lead, manage and coach people in the workplace. The communication skills I have learnt have assisted me in my communications and have improved my relationships at work and home. I thought the program was great. It was challenging and a lot of work. But in the end there were real and useful learning outcomes. I really enjoyed this course and got a lot out of it. It provided me the opportunity to grow personally (the most important output) and gave me some very useful coaching skills

Campbell SmithVictoria

I have grown in confidence and started the journey of becoming a coach. The course provided me with some excellent theory and practical components which have worked together well in helping me along the journey. I now have greater confidence and much better listening skills. I’ve learnt what active listening actually means. The higher level of confidence has allowed me to develop my coaching skills at a faster than expected rate.

Gary MottQueensland

My approach to all personal and professional discussions and my confidence has grown with what I have learnt from the program. I truely believe this program has changed my approach to all I do. I believe I have enhanced my communication and how to read and interact with different personalities types, listening with purpose and communicating with intent to learn and grow others.

Trevor SchollVictoria

I can see the benefits and knowledge and skills in coaching and can see its benefits in self coaching, one on one coaching and team coaching as well as in everyday conversations and conflict resolution. The face to face program and online program is excellent. I have completed various vocational and post graduate study courses and this is the best so far. Natalie Ashdown is an inspirational coach and trainer. Her teaching methods are engaging and very effective. Brigitte Calvert always completes assessment reviews speedily and the feedback was excellent and assisted in the learning process.

Amanda BanksACT

I am now comfortable coaching. I see lots of opportunities and I have realised that I have many skills. I have a greater awareness of serving the higher needs of all within my interactions. I am much better at posing appropriate questions to foster internal reflection. I think it is an excellent program.

Belinda BeattyWestern Australia

I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to conduct conversations and am now confident to be able to perform a coaching session and have enjoyed a new sense of learning since commencing the course.

Melissa HennessyACT

The program enabled me to reflect upon and identify HOW I coach. Throughout the assignment work I revisited my other training guides and has reinforced what I already knew, and also refreshed my knowledge of my coach training. I have a greater awareness of the theory and techniques that I use in my coaching practice each day . My coaching is much more effective as I am spending more time on the issues below the surface which is providing greater value and benefit to my clients.

Gaye KuelsenQueensland

I am now confident in holding coaching conversations with people. Not only am I able to set up a coaching business, but also my listening skills have improved immensely. This helps me in my business and my sales calls.

Annelou JansenVictoria

I have new skills to use professionally and personally, particularly regarding active listening, powerful questioning and a range of excellent materials to draw upon and reflect upon.

Tui DavidsonACT

My attitude towards leadership coaching has changed greatly. I used to “teach” leaders how to manage people but now I use coaching to develop leaders’ skills. Whenever staff or managers come to me with a question, problem or issue, instead of giving them the answers, I coach them by asking the “who”, “how” and “what” questions. I have coached staff and managers through performance reviews, career development and employee relations issues.

Xiao YuVictoria

Totally loving using my new coaching skills in the workplace. Staff are delighted with how I am helping them to solve their own problems. Absolutely loved the course! Would recommend it.

Natalie MayNew South Wales

I’ve definitely grown personally as I’ve learnt new communication skills. I’ve started employing those skills in everyday work situations. I’m leading the way for my unit in adopting a coaching culture.

Anthony PalmerVictoria

The way I view things has changed from trying to provide answers to helping people find their own answers. I have improved my listening skills and allow space for other’s answers.

Raymond SevilleQueensland

Previous Next