Goal setting is almost entirely determined by the 'direction of the arrow'

Today, I'd like to talk a little bit about goal setting.

Whether it's work, study, or hobbies.

I feel like we go through life setting goals quite naturally.

For example.

In golf, it might be 'I want to break 90'.

In guitar, it might be 'I want to be able to play this song by the live performance'.

Of course, it's the same at work.

It could be a monthly sales target,
or a project achievement goal.

We have various goals every day.

But, this concept of 'goals',
I feel like it's often used without being properly organized.

Even in my own management experience,
I find that this is an area where things easily get misaligned.

First, as a premise,
there are several types of goals.

Broadly speaking,

outcome goals
and
action goals.

For example, if we think about sales.

'Close 30 deals a month'

This is an easy-to-understand outcome goal.

Then, for that purpose,

'Make 3 appointments every day'

What about this?

This depends on your role.

If you are responsible for the entire sales process,

this is an intermediate outcome for closing deals.
However,

if your role is specifically defined as 'making appointments',
then this is a valid outcome goal.
In other words,

outcome goals are not absolute; they are determined by the role assigned to you.

This is quite important.

On top of that,

'Make 10 calls every day'

This is an action goal.

This is merely a means.

It is the action itself.

When this distinction becomes ambiguous,

goal setting quickly goes off track.
A common occurrence is

answering with an action

when asked about a goal.
'I will work hard at sales'

'I will make many calls'
'I will conduct market research'
Of course, these are important.

But if you lose sight of what you are trying to achieve with them,

you easily end up in a state where you are working hard but not moving forward.
You're busy, but not progressing.

This is quite tough.

I feel like I've had that feeling many times.

I'm moving.

I'm doing things.
But I don't know what is being built up by doing so.
In this state,

the sense of accomplishment is thin.

But there is something that is even easier to get misaligned.

That is,

growth goals.

These are also very common.

'I will acquire knowledge'

'I will study more'
'I will improve my communication skills'
At first glance, this is very positive.

However,

it can be risky when set as a work goal.
Why?

Because the arrow is pointing at yourself.

How you want to become.

What you want to gain.

Of course,

this is important.
I'm not denying it.

But work,

fundamentally, exists to fulfill a role.
How do you contribute to the organization?

How do you return value to society?

If the arrow isn't pointing there,

it is weak as a goal.
Acquiring knowledge itself

is not an outcome.
It is preparation.

It is groundwork.

In some cases,

it's not even an action, but a pre-stage to that.

I think this is the essence.

Goal setting,
in the end, is about 'where the arrow is pointing'.

Is it at yourself?

Is it at your role?

Is it at the organization?

Is it at the purpose?

When this direction is misaligned,
you end up with something that looks like a goal but isn't.

And the troublesome part is,
you can't reflect on those kinds of goals.

'Did you acquire knowledge?'

Even if you are asked that,
honestly, it's quite ambiguous.

It can't be measured.

Things that can't be measured
cannot be improved.

This is a big deal.

That is why I believe
what is important when setting work goals is,

first,
to clarify your role.

For that role,
decide what constitutes an outcome.

To produce that outcome,
organize what actions you will accumulate.

I think this is the order.

Goals,
rather than setting them,
it is more important to be able to reflect on them.

Goals that are just set and left alone
disappear before you know it.

But,
if the outcome is properly defined,
and the actions are organized,

you can reflect on them.

You can correct them.

You can build upon them.

What are you achieving?

How will you measure it?

What will you do for that purpose?

If you can think this far,
I feel like the resolution of your work changes significantly.