When you’re aiming to achieve a specific KPI or goal, it’s crucial to question why you’ve set that target. Why aim for annual recurring revenue of $1 million instead of $2 million or $500,000? Why strive to bench press 150 pounds if you’re currently lifting 140 pounds? Asking “why” is the first step toward achieving success. It helps you understand not only why you want to achieve a specific goal but also why you believe that number is realistic.
This crucial consideration is often overlooked in both personal and professional goal setting. At work, we don’t always ask why we think we can achieve a given goal before planning our approach. In our personal lives, we might set ambitious goals like losing weight or lifting heavier but don’t consider why we can realistically achieve them. Being intentional about the numbers you choose will provide valuable insight and ensure your goals are both challenging and attainable.
Personal Goals:
Whether you want to read three books in a set timeframe or lift a certain weight by a specific date, asking yourself why you chose that goal can be 50% of the achievement process. Sometimes we set goals based on a fleeting burst of motivation, but by incorporating thoughtful questions into your planning, you’ll set yourself up for success.
Let’s examine the goal of reading more books. Consider answering these questions:
- When was the last time you read a book?
- Have you read a book within the timeframe you’re aiming for?
- What’s your reading speed (words per minute, pages per minute)?
- How much time can you dedicate to reading daily?
- Do you have the patience to absorb words and meaning from a book, and for how long?
Answering these questions will help you build a clear plan to achieve your reading goals. Relying solely on motivation can lead to disappointment if you don’t reach your target. Instead, be analytical in your approach—this will greatly improve your chances of success.
Professional Goals (OKRS & KPIs):
In a professional setting, if your organization sets an annual recurring revenue target of $1 million, ask why that specific number was chosen. This will lead to a valuable conversation about the market research and growth strategy behind the target.
From my experience, I’ve been handed targets that made me question why they were set at those levels. Often, the response is based on market analysis and aligned with growth strategy. As a startup, it’s important to set projections and understand the reasoning behind them, but these targets can vary when you introduce a product or service to the market. By questioning targets, you’ll gain insight into why the number was chosen and develop a clearer plan to reach it.
Final Thoughts:
If you haven’t hit a goal before, give yourself time to evaluate your performance over a specific period. Using this collected data, see what you can improve and what you can eliminate. Compare your performance over a second cycle and measure it against the goal you have set for yourself. At that point, evaluate if the goal is realistic, an outlier due to management factors, or was never achievable from the start.
Always question your targets to understand how they’ve been achieved before and how you can apply your strengths to reach or exceed them. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and why a target is set at a particular number. This will help you avoid unforeseen disappointment and set you up for long-term success.