It’s common wisdom that if you want to motivate yourself to achieve a goal, you should share it with other people. However, it turns out that this ‘truth’ is actually a myth. It turns out that sharing your ‘goal intentions’ can backfire. This is a because sharing your goal makes you feel take on the ‘identity’ of someone who has already achieved your desired result. I recently read a fascinating study on this.

In the study, second-year law students were asked to write about their three most important intentions in becoming a lawyer. Some students made their intentions known to others, whilst others kept them private. The results were eye-opening. The students who shared their intentions reported they felt a strong sense of completeness in relation to their goals. Just by articulating their intentions to behave like a successful lawyer – for example, by reading law periodicals routinely – they felt more like an actual lawyer. This inflated sense of identity-completeness gave them a premature sense of satisfaction, reducing their drive to actually work towards their goals.

Wow. This study suggests sometimes it is best to keep your goals to yourself. So how can you avoid falling into this trap? One straightforward solution is to keep your intentions to yourself and focus on getting things done. This is the fastest way to move towards your goal. In other words, by quietly progressing towards your goals, you can prevent yourself becoming someone who is ‘all talk and no action’.

On the other hand, if you really do need to share your intentions, there’s another strategy to consider. Describe the inherent worth of your goal, rather than talking about how successful you will be when you achieve it. This prevents your mind from taking shortcuts and fooling you into feeling like you’ve already accomplished your goal. For example, instead of saying “I will be a successful lawyer”, try saying “My goal is to contribute to the justice system and make a positive impact in people’s lives”. By focusing on the intrinsic value of your goal, you can stay motivated without falling into the trap of premature satisfaction.

If you are a manager or leader, it’s also worth considering how you can support your team in achieving their goals. Encourage them to focus on the process and progress, rather than just the end result. This will help prevent a false sense of accomplishment setting in, thus keeping everyone motivated to continue working more steadily towards team goals. Also think about how goal-setting processes are implemented in your organisation. Are there opportunities for open and honest communication about goals, without creating a sense of identity-completeness? By promoting a healthy balance between sharing intentions and focusing on action, you can help your people achieve their goals effectively.

For a more in-depth exploration of this captivating subject, you’re encouraged to read the full article here. Remember, aim to be someone who not only talks the talk but can also walk the walk.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.