Mark Murphy argues SMART goals promote mediocrity by prioritizing achievable targets over stretch goals. Leaders who set difficult or audacious goals are 34% more likely to love their jobs, and top executives are 64% more likely to set them. Real accomplishment requires discomfort.
Smart goals are an excuse to be mediocre. Let me prove that. Think about your life's proudest achievements. That big promotion you got, that tough certification you earned, that marathon you ran, putting your kids through college. Now, were those accomplishments easy or hard? And when they started, were they honestly achievable and realistic? I've asked tens of thousands of leaders the same question and the same answers every single time. Yeah, my biggest accomplishments were hard. Way outside of my comfort zone. They were not remotely realistic at the start. And yet companies keep assigning goals that are by design achievable and realistic. In our study of more than 16,000 people on goal setting, only 43% set difficult or audacious goals. Those who do are 34% more likely to love their jobs, and top executives are 64% more likely to set those difficult or audacious goals. We hand people achievable goals so they won't feel anxious, but we're also removing everything that would have made the achievement worth being proud of.
