Goal Setting Publicly vs. Privately

As the current year draws to a close, intentions and plans for the New Year are under way. Some of us may have done this work some months back, whilst some may settle into the new year first. Notice am avoiding the word 'resolutions.' I don't particularly like this word as can feel bullish, pressured and we all know behavioural change is more complex and has a number of layers. In this newsletter FPR Executive Coaching explores goal setting and the dynamics of doing this publicly vs. privately. I hope this provides some thinking around what will be the best approach for you, that will encourage your success.

Public Goal Setting: We live in an age of heavy self promotion and constant publicising of goals and achievements . This serves the purpose of looking productive; can provide high achievers with a sense of validation and can create a greater sense of self worth and self esteem. Continuous progress and growth have almost become a badge of honour and status symbol. Some find publicly declaring goals can keep one accountable and on track too. Some make a 'journey' out of goals, updating on progress, which can provide a sense of satisfaction and inspire others on social media too. However, this can also come at a risk if not SMART and the thought of publicly failing can create added pressure and anxiety. For instance declaring a big weight loss goal and daily exercise may seem like a good idea following the excesses of the festive season, but come Jan 20th, this may no longer feel sustainable or desirable. Declaring a big return to higher education could be a risk if for whatever reason we don't enjoy the course. Declaring leaving corporate to be a solopreneur can be risky if not secured revenue streams.

So if we are deciding to be public about our goals it may be worth considering some of the following:

1. Are our goals SMART?
2. What is our true motivation for publicising? Self promotion/accountability etc?
3. Are our goals truly sustainable, giving us the best chance of success?
4. How will we deal with setbacks and possible failure if things don't go to plan?
5. Will we document the journey and be honest about downs as well as ups?

Publicly declaring goals can spur us on and the encouragement from others can be a huge impetus to keep going. I was very public about my goals in 2024 and documented my journey. I was grateful for the support and encouragement and the acknowledgment at milestones was a boost too. However, I did feel pressure too, albeit self inflicted.

Private Goal Setting:

Some may opt to keep their 2025 goals private and there can be huge advantages to this approach.

1. We can work on them quietly without the added pressure of others watching.
2. We can keep our growth plans away from competitive eyes.
3. We avoid commentary from naysayers.
4. We can adapt and modify goals as we work on them to best fit our needs.
5. We avoid embarrassment if things don't go to plan or move slower than we'd like.
6. We can share updates and successes at times when feel right.

We will need to keep ourselves accountable and it is key to resource ourselves and to have a support network and a mentor or coach can be a great resource in this.

I am opting for private goal setting for 2025, and the reason being I want to enjoy my journey and growth quietly, without the pressure of others watching. I am also evolving thinking and planning slowly and want to be clear myself first before sharing any updates publicly. I don't need validation and will work with my mentor to stay accountable and on track. Have already met one 2025 goal, ahead of schedule.

There is no right or wrong way to goal set and whether you go public or stay private, I hope this newsletter gives you food for thought and helps you think about what will be the most supportive and successful approach for you. I hope you have fun with your planning.

Should you like some executive coaching support or a marketing/insight mentor to support you in 2025 do reach out. As well as standard bundles I am also offering new retainer packages, where you can tap into the support you need, when you need it throughout the course of the year.

Please DM me for more details.

I help senior leaders across the Marketing/Advertising/Insight/MRX sectors, working in high pressured, fast paced environments become the best leaders they can be, whilst championing their purpose and values.

I am a certified Executive Coach (PG Cert Henley Business School) and accredited by both the EMCC (Senior Practitioner) and ICF (ACC.)

I look forward to hearing from you and wish you a Happy New Year filled with health, wealth, happiness and successful fulfilment of all your goals for 2025.