5 ms·

I attended a 'leadership training' session recently, where the instructor said to do just the opposite. By telling everyone your goals, you will have more eyes

I attended a 'leadership training' session recently, where the instructor said to do just the opposite. By telling everyone your goals, you will have more eyes on you if you fail, so you will have more incentive to follow through with those plans/goals.

johnchristopher 13y ago
Maybe both are correct but for different kind of personalities. Personally I don't like to state my plans, I do better work in stealth mode (or do I just enjoy it more ?) ; but my SO hates backing out of her own words and I noticed it's a good incentive for her to push things through.
- jmzbond 13y ago
  I agree with you! I think you can always find a study supporting one side or the other. In this case, the author explains that the rationale is that telling your plans satisfies your self identity enough. I think the degree of "enough" is likely what's driven by personality differences (which are in turn driven by socio- cultural- etc.) For me, I know that when I tell people stuff (and this also depends on what the "stuff" is, telling people I'm going to eat Chipotle doesn't mean I'll do it) I become very motivated to do it to avoid "losing face."
- davidb_ 13y ago
  I think your audience matters as well. Personally, I've noticed if I'm at a party with people I don't know too well (and for some reason discussing personal goals), that interaction has little bearing on my motivation. But, if I'm discussing my goals with people I admire, I am more motivated to complete them in order to maintain my reputation.
mpweiher 13y ago
In my experience, if an instructor at a 'leadership training' session tells you to do something, doing the opposite is usually a good bet.
devgutt 13y ago
We are very good rationalizing fail, so I think this "incentive" is not enough. Actually, now you have to explain yourself for a bunch of people.
saryant 13y ago
I've found that this works very well for me. If I have goals but don't tell anyone, they tend to fall by the wayside. If I tell people, I feel like I'll look like a flake in their eyes if I fail, even if the goal had nothing to do with them. Shallow, yes. But so far it's worked for me.
Dewie 13y ago
Some people make (one sided) bets with their friends; if I don't follow through with this, I will give you X£, or something like that. That kind of commitment probably won't leave them feeling complacent.

johnchristopher 13y ago

Maybe both are correct but for different kind of personalities. Personally I don't like to state my plans, I do better work in stealth mode (or do I just enjoy it more ?) ; but my SO hates backing out of her own words and I noticed it's a good incentive for her to push things through.

jmzbond 13y ago
I agree with you! I think you can always find a study supporting one side or the other. In this case, the author explains that the rationale is that telling your plans satisfies your self identity enough. I think the degree of "enough" is likely what's driven by personality differences (which are in turn driven by socio- cultural- etc.) For me, I know that when I tell people stuff (and this also depends on what the "stuff" is, telling people I'm going to eat Chipotle doesn't mean I'll do it) I become very motivated to do it to avoid "losing face."
davidb_ 13y ago
I think your audience matters as well. Personally, I've noticed if I'm at a party with people I don't know too well (and for some reason discussing personal goals), that interaction has little bearing on my motivation. But, if I'm discussing my goals with people I admire, I am more motivated to complete them in order to maintain my reputation.

mpweiher 13y ago

In my experience, if an instructor at a 'leadership training' session tells you to do something, doing the opposite is usually a good bet.

devgutt 13y ago

We are very good rationalizing fail, so I think this "incentive" is not enough. Actually, now you have to explain yourself for a bunch of people.

saryant 13y ago

I've found that this works very well for me. If I have goals but don't tell anyone, they tend to fall by the wayside. If I tell people, I feel like I'll look like a flake in their eyes if I fail, even if the goal had nothing to do with them. Shallow, yes. But so far it's worked for me.

Dewie 13y ago

Some people make (one sided) bets with their friends; if I don't follow through with this, I will give you X£, or something like that. That kind of commitment probably won't leave them feeling complacent.