I read this post recently by Craig Jarrow, The Time Management Ninja and thought I would share it with you as it struck a cord. We’ve just launched The LeapZone Game – an exponential growth mastermind group – and one of the key factors of the game is “accountability” and the importance of sharing goals with a few trusted peeps.

There has been some debate in recent years about whether you should tell others your goals. In fact, there are camps of thought that you will be less inclined to complete your goals if you talk about them. And others that believe that you shouldn’t have goals at all.

I won’t debate that here, but will re-state that I believe that not having goals is a recipe for mediocrity. I am also a firm believer that it’s not only healthy to talk about your goals…it’s vital.

Here are 5 Reasons You Should Tell Others About Your Goals:
1. Clarify Your Goals: Often, we think we know our goals. However, by telling them, by spelling them out, you find out what they really are. You might find that your goals aren’t exactly what you thought they were.

2. Drive Accountabilty: It’s easy to let yourself down. And we are quick to forgive our inner selves. But, it’s not so easy to let others down. Telling others about your goals brings a new level of accountability.

3. Make Them Visible: Telling others about your goals makes them visible. It gets them out of you and into the public realm. Whether you share with just close friends or with the world, you have gotten your goals out of your head.

4. Set a Deadline: Goals without a deadline are just dreams or wishes. They are just thoughts. Tell others about what you intend to accomplish and by when.

5. Empower Yourself:  Telling your goals to others gives you a sense of permission. In a way, you are officially giving yourself permission to pursue. Talking about your goals can give you the green light to move forward.

Now, I can’t know if I will successfully achieve all my goals. But, one thing is for sure…I will set myself up for success from the start with:

1. Weekly actions that align with my goals.
2. A daily ritual that allows me to be at my best.
3. A business architecture that does not allow me to drift from what’s important and/or non-negotiable.

And by stating my important goals to others, I feel much more empowered and accountable to do what is needed to reach them.

LEAP OF THE WEEK: I invite you to share at least one of your big juicy goals with someone or better yet, if you want some public encouragement, tweet me @LeapZone. Then the whole world will know your goals. (now, if that’s not accountability…I don’t know what is!)

Cheers to kicking some serious butt together!
Isabelle

Thank you to Craig Jarrow from Time Management Ninja for this great reminder….and for inspiring me on a weekly basis with his valuable content.