I recently read an article in the NY Times about a study that questioned the concept of announcing your goals to others as motivation to complete them. According to this study, the announcement of your goals may actually make you less likely to accomplish them:“Any time you have a goal, there are some steps that need to be done, some work that needs to be done in order to achieve it. Ideally, you would not be satisfied until you had actually done the work, but when you tell someone your goal, and they acknowledge it, psychologists have found that it’s called a social reality. The mind is kind of tricked into feeling that it’s already done. And then, because you’ve felt that satisfaction, you’re less motivated to do the actual hard work necessary.”
A good number of people acknowledged that this had also been their life experience and one person stated that he now waits until he is well into a project before he will even mention it to anyone. Another raised the issue of it being important who you announce your goal to. In other words, will the people you tell hold you accountable by constantly asking you how far along you are.This is an interesting concept and I would really like to hear your thoughts on shouting out your goals. Has your experience been similar to the people mentioned, or very different?
5 comments:
Hmmmm.. interesting. I guess it depends on who you tell. If you tell it to someone that might be disappointed by you if you don't accomplish the goal/task you are probably more likely to do it.
It the people you tell have no stake in your future it doesn't matter if you accomplish it or not
Thanks Sy,
So, using others as motivation is the push some people might need to keep moving. It really makes me wonder about this study because other people I have asked about their experiences have said pretty much the same thing.
After I tell someone about a plan or goal I have I feel pressured if they keep asking me about it. But I will admit that I do feel a rush right after I have told someone about my plans.
Interesting... I won't want to announce my goals and giving myself the added stress that I already have. So I'll keep mum until when I do accomplished it, I'll probably shout about it. Right now I do have a goal that was set out when I was a lot younger and am planning to accomplish it in 4 years time. If I do accomplished it, I'll be proud to make an annoucement. If not, it will be just a dream and I won't die disgracing myself as a loser.
Mysayonblog,
Then good luck on your project! and, just a small word of advice: We are not losers if things don't work out as we envisioned them because you learn something along the way (that was how penicillin was discovered, the guy was looking for something else). Whatever your project, you are setting off on a grand adventure...enjoy the ride!
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