A Master of Opportunity & Challenge— that’s what my wife dubbed me in my late twenties and early thirties.
A former elite athlete, a championship winning coach, and the Managing Director of a successful consulting business, goals were my spinach. They fuelled my strength, made light work of obstacles or obstructions, and drove me to achieve whatever I set my sights on.
Goals made anything possible, or so it seemed.
Their promise was certainly enticing, and their power seductively addictive.
Ineffective, Outdated and Unhealthy
The costs, however, steadily mounted—escalating expectations, enormous hours at work and on the on court, wildly fluctuating (but well hidden) emotions, and relationship struggles. Until one day the achiever in me was worn out, with nothing left to give, and a trail of disappointment and regrets trailing in my wake.
If only my story was unique. But it’s not.
In my work as a leadership consultant and executive coach I see it playing out, in big ways and in small, on a continual basis.
I see it in the desperate faces of up and coming leaders working insane hours, eyes firmly fixed on the prize of the next promotion. In the resigned, ‘here we go again,’ expressions of a seasoned but worn senior executives as they ponder their annual objectives. And in the tired and stressed-out demeanour of a rising stars, struggling to cope with ambitious, and often conflicting, work and family goals.
These are the modern victims of an outdated and ineffective process called goal setting.
A process where, for too many of us, our worth and sense of self have become indelibly linked to goal achievement. Where all too often goals take on a life of their own—an all or nothing pursuit that for many becomes draining and soul destroying.
A Sustaining & Sustainable Alternative
But is there a better approach? One that ensures that we continue to get the important things done. One that encourages us to continue growing and developing in our capacity and capability. One that connects us with who we really are, and enables us to live, love, and lead in the most impactful way possible.
Yes. That’s the short answer.
How do I know? Because I needed to find a better way, so I went in search of it and found it. And not only have I personally applied it, but I’ve also witnessed its liberating and transformative impact on a diverse range of my coaching clients who’ve applied it.
Comprised of only two components—a Guiding Statement and a set of Signs—here’s how it works:
Guiding Statement
This statement captures the essence of who and how you aspire to be. It provides a clear sense of purpose and an impelling vision that is sustaining and inspiring.
Signs
Life can indeed be an exhilarating adventure, with many different routes to the same final destination. Yet while chartering your own unique course can be both fulfilling and challenging (sometimes simultaneously!), it’s certainly reassuring to have some markers along the way that indicate you’re heading in the right direction.
I refer to these markers as Signs—key indicators you might expect to see taking shape in your life if you’re moving in the direction of the person you aspire to be and become (as defined by your Guiding Statement).
These Signs, usually no more than four or five in total, reassure and build confidence when you see them taking shape in your life, and act as an alert mechanism—encouraging you to pause and take a good look around—when they’re not showing up.
This fresh and flexible approach is:
Highly aspirational and energising
Connection with a higher purpose, a clear and impelling vision, speaks to our body, mind and spirit. Rather than draining our resources and energy trying to reach multiple destinations (which is what goals so often become), this approach continually synergises our energy and efforts to align with our ultimate destination—who and how we aspire to be.
It allows us to tap into a readily accessible, instinctive, and sustainable source of energy that flows from the very core of who we are (who we’ve always been). An energy that enables us to bring our full selves to any endeavour, in a nourishing, vital, and authentic way, rather than having to rely on will power alone.
Fluid, dynamic, and emergent (VUCA compliant)
While goals are typically prescriptive—based on an assumption, or set of assumptions, that things will play out in a particular way—creating a series of Signs is a descriptive process. It provides a number of indicators that we might expect to see, without dictating the course we must follow (our Signs are not destinations in their own right).
This fluidity allows the space for us to adapt and respond to what’s emerging at any point in time, and to regularly modify or adjust our Signs in line with the changing conditions and environment we find ourselves in. Importantly, this approach also recognises that the true power and value of our Signs is found in their collective ability to help keep us true to our purpose and vision (rather than encouraging the pursuit of individual goals for their own sake).
A wellspring for innovation & creativity
Rather than the narrowing of perspective that often occurs when we become focused on the pursuit of goals, creating a set of Signs encourages us to think broadly. It encourages us to consider multiple possibilities, to explore many potential routes to the same, singular destination (the purpose and vision captured in our Guiding Statement).
In a Signs environment, exploring new directions and ideas that don’t work out as planned, isn’t seen as failure, but rather as a natural part of growth and development—all part of charting our own unique course.
Signs or Goals—The Choice Is Yours
Whether or not this fresh approach is right for you, only you can decide.
But if the continual pursuit of goals is wearing you down; or the achievement of goals has lost its sparkle (‘next’); or you find yourself increasingly asking ‘Why am I doing this?’, then perhaps it’s time to make a change.
A change to a process whose entire emphasis is on only one thing: helping you become who and how you aspire to be, the truest possible you.
Of course, as with any worthwhile endeavour, understand that an investment of time and effort is required if the rewards are to be realised. Time must be taken to clarify and refine a powerful Guiding Statement (your personal purpose and vision), and to develop an initial set of Signs.
From there, curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to work with ambiguity and emergence are required, as you chart a course that is entirely unique to you and the circumstances you encounter along the way.
What an exciting and entirely fulfilling adventure that might prove to be. An adventure that could well make a world of difference to you, those you love, and those you lead.
Go well and stay well,
Mark
P.S. Interested in knowing more? For a limited time only, I’m offering subscribers to my blog a Guiding Statement and Signs PDF pack free of charge. This pack includes two chapters from my upcoming book, True 2 You: Coming Home to the Person You’ve Always Been, as well as the Guiding Statement and Signs workbooks. Simply email me now to request your complimentary pack.
Great article Mark – thanks for sharing