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If you’ve read Part 1 in our Goal Setting series, you know that the SMART framework is the roadmap for setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals.
But here’s the plot twist: setting goals without systems will fall short. It’s the reason why many of our well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions fizzle out after only a few weeks.
So, in Part 2 of our goal-setting series, we’re shifting our focus from the goals themselves to the habits that help you achieve them.
If your goal is the destination, then your habits are the vehicle that gets you there – turning your aspirations into results.
Have you ever wondered why so many goals fail to stick?
It’s not because of the goal itself; it’s because we don’t have a support system in place. A goal without a system is like trying to drive a car without fuel – you won’t get very far.
For example, let’s say you set a SMART goal to improve your sleep. But is that goal actionable by itself? Probably not. To turn it into reality, you need to build a system of habits that will lead you to better sleep.
What does that system look like? It might include eating earlier in the evenings, turning off screens an hour before bed, and creating a bedtime routine that helps you wind down.
Now, let’s be real for a second.
Creating new habits isn’t easy. In fact, we’re perfectly designed to live by our current habits – even if those habits aren’t serving us.
Returning to the goal of improving sleep, you might say, “I want to get eight hours of sleep every night”. If your current habits include eating late, watching TV until you doze off, or scrolling through your phone in bed, it’s no wonder your goal hasn’t been achieved.
And it’s not just about sleep! The same pattern applies to goals around eating healthier, exercising, or improving your work-life balance.
The key to successful habit change is to start with your identity. Instead of focusing solely on the end goal, begin to see yourself as the kind of person who embodies the habits needed to reach that goal.
Instead of thinking, “I want to get more sleep”, try identifying with the kind of person who does get more sleep. Think: “I am someone who values rest and takes care of my health”. This mindset shift is key.
Too often, we beat ourselves up when we don’t stick to our goals. We tell ourselves, “I just need more discipline!” But the truth is that success starts with identity, not willpower.
This shift in identity is crucial because it externalises the habit. It’s not about self-blame or discipline. It’s about aligning who you want to be and what you do.
By asking yourself this identity-based question, you create a mental pause – a moment where you can choose a better action. Over time, those small, mindful choices stack up, and your new habits become second nature.
According to research by James Clear, the author of ‘Atomic Habits’, the key isn’t to focus too much on the goal itself. Instead, put your goal “on the shelf” and concentrate on building the system – aka, your habits.
To sum it up, goals give you direction, but habits are the engine. It’s not the goal that often trips us up – it’s the lack of a system, and that system starts with creating new habits grounded in the identity of who you want to be.
Next up, in Part 3, we’ll explore how to lock in these new habits and build rituals that make them stick. Stay tuned – this is the final piece of the puzzle!
Paul is the founding principal of the Lincoln Institute and is a highly sought-after executive coach, facilitator and keynote presenter with a focus on stimulating organisational team and individual leadership potential. Paul is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales, the Royal Military College Duntroon and was awarded the prestigious Sasakawa Leadership Scholarship by the Australian Graduate School of Management’s Executive MBA program.
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