On one side, you could play it safe and set goals that are too easy to meet. And on the opposite side, you can set lofty goals that you never seem to hit. Where’s the happy medium, and how do you set goals that will help you thrive instead? The answer is in setting healthy stretch goals, and here’s how.

This topic was requested by listener Safiya Robinson. Safiya is tuning in from Barbados and it’s an excellent topic to simplify!

What is a ‘stretch’ goal?

First off, let’s get clear on what a stretch goal actually is. In an article named The Stretch Goal Paradox, Harvard Business Review suggests:

“true stretch goals differ from ordinary challenging goals in two important respects. [They involve] extreme difficulty and extreme novelty.”

So, by these standards, a stretch goal stretches you and your team to go beyond your current capabilities and performance. It also stretches you to overhaul things, and try working differently, not just harder.

They cited the example of Southwest Airlines:

“To get gate turnarounds down to 10 minutes, Southwest had to completely overhaul its staff’s work practices and reimagine the behavior of customers. The airline did, however, famously figure out how to reach this goal.”

And as we all know, Southwest knows how to create a fun, customer driven experience every time. And how do they do it? The company invests in and values continual team training, and their staff embody the ethos. By using stretch goals, they accomplished the task at hand.

Listen in to hear exactly how to set a stretch goal.

Don’t forget the power of small wins

Now is not the time to go after stretch goals if:

• You’re feeling worn out
• You’re beat down by too many big, lofty goals where you missed the mark
• You’ve taken a big hit in your business

It would be smarter to focus on a series of small wins that you could achieve in the next 90 days instead. This will help to rebuild confidence, momentum and get back on top of your game.

#Dothething.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-set-healthy-stretch-goals