Cracking the Code on Goals That Really Get You Results

Ever set a goal that felt right at the time, but somehow you just didn’t follow through? You get busy, lose focus, or it just fades into the background. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It happens to all of us, especially when we’re setting big goals. The problem often isn’t the goal itself, but how it’s structured. It’s time to crack the code on setting goals that actually get you results.

When you’re in a leadership role, understanding how to set effective goals can be a game-changer—not just for you, but for your team as well. The right kind of goal keeps you motivated and pushes you forward, even when things get tough. Today, I’ll walk you through two powerful frameworks that can help you make that happen: SMART Goals and NLP Well-Formedness Conditions. Together, they’ll give you a rock-solid approach to setting goals that stick and get you real, measurable results.

What Are SMART Goals?

Let’s start with the basics. SMART goals are a well-known tool for creating clear and actionable objectives. You’ve probably heard about them before, but let’s break down what they really mean and why they work:

• Specific: The more specific your goal, the easier it is to follow through. Instead of saying, “I want to be a better leader,” try something like, “I want to improve my public speaking skills by attending a leadership course.”
• Measurable: If you can’t measure your progress, how will you know if you’ve succeeded? Make sure your goal has a tangible way to track progress, like, “I want to speak in front of an audience at least three times in the next six months.”
• Achievable: Set a goal that pushes you, but is still realistic. If it feels impossible, you’re more likely to give up. For instance, speaking in front of a large group three times is a stretch if you’ve never done it, but it’s doable with the right plan.
• Relevant: Make sure the goal ties into your bigger picture. Why does it matter to your career or leadership growth? If improving public speaking will help you lead your team with more confidence, then it’s absolutely relevant.
• Time-Bound: Every goal needs a deadline. Whether it’s three months, six months, or a year, you need a target date to keep yourself accountable.

This SMART process ensures your goals are crystal clear and actionable. But is that enough to truly lock them in? Not quite. That’s where the NLP Well-Formedness Conditions come in to strengthen the process even further.

What Are NLP Well-Formedness Conditions?

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Well-Formedness Conditions take goal-setting to the next level by focusing on how your mind interacts with the goals you’re setting. This is important because your goals can either work with your brain or against it. When they’re well-formed, your brain naturally moves toward achieving them. Here’s how it works:

1. The goal must be stated in positive terms. Instead of focusing on what you don’t want, frame your goal in terms of what you do want. For example, don’t say, “I don’t want to be nervous during public speaking.” Instead, say, “I want to feel confident and prepared when I speak.”
2. It must be within your control. You can’t control everything, so your goal should focus on actions you can directly influence. For example, you can control how often you practice public speaking, but you can’t control how others react to your performance.
3. It should be specific and sensory-based. Make your goal as vivid as possible. Imagine yourself standing on stage, seeing the audience, hearing your own voice, and feeling the confidence. The more sensory-rich your goal is, the more real it becomes in your mind.
4. It needs to have an ecology check. Consider the impact of achieving this goal on your life as a whole. Is this goal good for your career, your relationships, and your well-being? If it throws everything else out of balance, it’s time to rethink it.
5. It should preserve your existing resources. Ask yourself, “What resources do I already have that can help me?” Maybe you’ve had leadership training or feedback that can make the process easier. You don’t have to start from scratch.

When you combine the SMART framework with the NLP Well-Formedness Conditions, you set yourself up for a goal that’s not only clear and actionable but also deeply connected to your inner motivation. It’s like giving your goal an extra layer of reinforcement.

Who Needs This?

If you’re a new leader or an emerging manager, these frameworks are essential. Whether you’re looking to develop your skills, lead a team more effectively, or just move forward in your career, setting the right goals is the first step. Imagine you’re in your first year of management, and you’ve been struggling to gain confidence in leading team meetings. Instead of vague goals like "improve leadership," try using SMART and NLP techniques to create a goal like, “I will lead three productive team meetings within the next three months, where we finish with clear next steps, and I receive positive feedback from at least two team members.”

This method could also help someone like Josh, a new supervisor who’s trying to grow his team’s performance. With SMART and NLP, Josh can set a goal like, “In the next six months, I will work with my team to increase our project completion rate by 10%, while using weekly check-ins to track progress and motivate the team.”

How to Start Setting These Goals

Ready to crack the code on effective goal-setting? Here are three steps to help you apply these principles over the next 48 hours:

1. Choose a goal that excites you Pick something you’ve been wanting to achieve but haven’t made real progress on yet. Make sure it’s something that’s meaningful to your leadership development.

2. Apply the SMART and NLP frameworks Use the SMART process to make your goal specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Then apply the NLP Well-Formedness Conditions to make sure your goal is positive, within your control, sensory-rich, and aligned with your life.

3. Write it down and take the first step Writing your goal down makes it real. Then take one small action toward it. If your goal is to lead better meetings, maybe your first step is creating an agenda for your next team huddle.

Your Call to Action

Within the next 48 hours, I want you to write down one goal using the SMART and NLP frameworks. Keep it specific, time-bound, and rooted in what you can control. Then, take the first step toward making it happen. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to stay motivated when your goal is well-formed and ready for action.