Should we aim for stretch goals or realistic goals?

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Sounds inspirational, right? But let’s have a closer look.

🤓 First, the logic doesn’t add up—stars are far beyond the moon. Miss the moon, and you’re more likely to drift into empty space. 😁

Metaphor aside, setting goals that are perpetually out of reach might fire people up once or twice, but over time, the thrill fades. Unrealistic goals erode trust and morale, leaving teams wondering if the moon was ever truly within reach.

So how do we set goals that are both inspiring and achievable? Let’s explore.

The Cost of unrealistic Moonshots

Ambitious stretch goals, or “moonshots,” often seem exciting, but they backfire:

• Loss of Meaning: If making great progress is only a consolation prize for missing an impossible target, it won’t feel like a win. Achievements should be celebrated, not treated as lesser failures.
• Never-Enough Culture: Asking, “How might we achieve 10x as much?” is a great workshop exercise to challenge limiting beliefs and spark fresh ideas. But turning it into goals fosters burnout and dissatisfaction.
• Resistance instead of Buy-In: Unrealistic goals imposed from above create pressure instead of guidance, leading to disengagement and cynicism.

The Benefits of realistic Milestones

Milestones, or realistic goals, align ambition with capacity, fostering a sense of ownership and steady progress:

• Achievable and Inspiring: Goals that feel within reach motivate action. Progress is tangible, and victories are worth celebrating.
• Team Collaboration: Goals set collaboratively rather than imposed increase commitment. When everyone agrees on the destination, they work together to get there.
• Guidance, Not Pressure: Realistic goals energize rather than exhaust, build trust over skepticism, and provide momentum for sustainable progress.

GPS: Navigating Goals

Think of goal-setting as programming your GPS (see the Transformation course section on GPS for more details; members only):

1. Goal: Define where you want to go in plain, understandable language. This provides direction without confusion.
2. Positioning: Establish where you are now and where you want to be with clear metrics. Progress becomes visible and measurable.
3. Strategy: Set a general direction to guide decisions along the way. Strategies provide guidance and flexibility rather than rigid plans. This helps navigate unforeseeable twists and turns of real-world execution.

A simple experiment

Try this with your team to explore goals:

1. Step 1: Brainstorm a Moonshot
2. Ask your team, “What’s the boldest, most ambitious thing we could aim for in 2025?” Capture all ideas, no matter how far-fetched.
3. Step 2: Find the Milestone
4. Reframe the moonshot by asking, “What does success look like given our current capacity?”
5. Step 3: Define the GPS

• Write the goal in clear, plain language.
• Identify your starting and target point with measurable metrics (e.g., “We’re currently at X and want to reach Y.”).
• Sketch a simple strategy: What’s your general approach to get there?

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