Resolutions Don’t Work but Written Goals DO!
For leaders and high performers, accountability and written commitments aren’t just motivational- they’re proven performance drivers. The research is that by 3 months, 70% have failed at their New Year’s resolutions. But that doesn’t mean goals aren’t important.
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found how to make your goals work for you. Dominican University of California did a study and they determined that written goals do work, especially if you have an accountability partner. Dr. Gail Matthews found that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down and repeat them.
Dr. Halverson, a psychologist, learned that if you decide in advance where and when you’re going to take specific action on your goal and follow-through, you double and triple your chances for success. Writing down your goals daily can be a powerful exercise in reminding your subconscious what you need to focus on.
But the most powerful study of all is from ASTD, the American Society for Training and Development. The study found that if you have written goals and an accountability partner and you commit and check in with that partner about your goals weekly, your chances of success increase 95%!! That’s amazing. Many of the leaders I work with integrate these accountability habits as part of their professional growth and performance development through our Executive Presence Training. (Thanks to the wonderful Marie Forleo for sharing this.)
So if you want this to be your year- Write your goals down, share them with an accountability partner, and check in weekly on your progress- the research shows this dramatically increases your likelihood of success..
These accountability principles are at the core of how I work with executive clients in Leadership Resilience Coaching. High-performing leaders don’t just set goals — they build the structures and partnerships that make follow-through inevitable. If you’re ready to lead with that kind of clarity and consistency, let’s talk.
