First rule of Goal setting

Any team I have been on always has a time in the beginning of the year where the coach asks us to write down our goals for what we want to go by end of the season. We then go around one by one announcing our goals to the rest of the team.

There have been plenty of studies( Lewin(1926) Mahler(1933) Gollwitzer(1982)) that show that you are more likely to achieve your goals if you don’t announce them. The reason being you get instant gratification when announcing your goals even if you haven’t achieved them. This gratification is unjustified. Watch the TED talk below

Conclusion: Actions speak louder than words. Set your goals, keep them to yourself, work hard, and achieve them.