Goals: Stretch or Realistic?

"Stretch goals change behavior."

This was a quote shared with me by an Inner Circle franchise owner, in reference to a Member who set a near impossible Action Item to achieve before his next month's Circle meeting.  When asked why he set such an agressive goal, he stated "stretch goals change behavior."

I like it.  And I think it's true...sometimes you need to set the bar exceptionally high to have that shot of coming in where you really want/need to be.  But doesn't this defy conventional wisdom that says goals should be 'challenging but realistic'?

We're quickly (VERY, VERY quickly) approaching the start of a new year, when we'll be setting all kinds of goals.  And we all know that goals are important; goal setting's impact on actual peformance and outcomes is well proven and validated at this point.  So, hey, I want to get it right!

I've always been the 'challenging but realistic' type personally.  But as an Achiever (my top Strengths Finder theme), I think this is consistent with my personality.  I also set those mini-goals that need to be accomplished to achieve the bigger goal.  As a 'list person' I thrive off the ability to cross things off and 'get things done.'  So for me, I think a 'stretch goal' would deprive me of that satisfaction; and I find that satisfaction helps keep me motivated and in forward motion.

Maybe the two schools of thought can be successfully combined...set the stretch goal and document the mini goals along the way, each with specific timeframes (another important component to a S.M.A.R.T goal....Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time-specific).

I think it's worthwhile to recognize there are different approaches, and to reflect on your personality, strengths and desires to really determine what will work best for YOU.  If you look back on 2009 and really didn't achieve what you wanted, maybe STRETCHing is really what you need to change your behavior.  Remember, to get what we've never had, we need to do what we've never done.