Making Goals work for you

The beginning of the year is a time when many of us set new goals, often aiming for something we haven’t done before. While many of these goals are accomplished by year’s end, some may roll over from one year to the next. Research shows that new goals require new behaviors, which in turn need both the skill and knowledge (the way) and the motivation (the will) to achieve them. The more complex and novel the goal, the higher the skill and motivation required.

Creating a System

James Clear, author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits, emphasizes that while goals define our destination, it’s the systems we create that help us get there. This mindset shift focuses on daily habits that drive outcomes rather than just the goals themselves.

Many senior leaders I coach want to have greater control over their time but often find themselves responding to emails or urgent issues. A system to achieve this goal might include planning the night before or blocking 30 minutes at the start of the day to plan ahead.

Small Steps

Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit, discusses how small wins show us that we are progressing and creating momentum for change. By breaking changes into tiny, manageable steps, we make goals achievable rather than overwhelming.

For instance, a 10-minute piano session or writing while sipping your evening tea feels more approachable than committing to an hour-long practice. These micro-accomplishments trigger dopamine release with each small victory, teaching the brain that these behaviors are worth repeating.

It’s About Who You Are

For a long time, achieving goals was about hitting targets, building connections, and collecting outcomes. I believed that through these achievements, I would become the person I aspired to be. While there’s truth in this approach, Clear in Atomic Habits elegantly inverts this thinking: start with who you want to become, then align your goals and habits to that identity. Instead of asking, “What do I want to achieve?” ask, “Who do I want to become?” When our actions emerge from our sense of self, they gain deeper resonance and staying power.

For example, if networking within your organization is an outcome-focused goal (“I need to build powerful connections”), it can feel daunting. But reframed through identity (“I am someone who creates meaningful relationships and influences others positively”), the same activities become part of your personal narrative—opportunities to build authentic friendships. When your habits reflect your core identity, it becomes less about willpower and more about being true to yourself and who you are becoming.

Something to Think About

If you have given up on a goal, ask yourself: Does this goal truly reflect my values and shape the future self I’m becoming? Also, examine if you have the systems in place to support you in executing the goal consistently. It’s the small, deliberate steps in the right direction that can shift beliefs and reshape identity.

Notes:

Berkman E. T. (2018). The Neuroscience of Goals and Behavior Change. Consulting psychology journal, 70(1), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpb0000094

Duhigg, C. (2012). The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business. Random House.

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House.