# Unrealistic Goals By:: [[Lori Zieg]] 2023-06-29 I recently overheard a conversation between an employee and a manager. Based on past performance, the employee questioned a quarterly goal that seemed utterly unrealistic. The manager acknowledged a near-zero chance of the business reaching the goal, but leadership hoped a lofty goal would encourage the employee base to work extra hard to reach the goal. Leadership’s true target was closer to 70 percent of the goal. Some employees may be motivated by grand goals such as this and undertake herculean efforts to achieve the impossible. Other employees, however, will be demotivated by an objectively impossible target. They will interpret such a goal as an indicator that leadership is disconnected from the employee base and does not understand the effort required to reach more realistic goals. They may also feel demoralized if they never have the satisfaction of meeting a goal. I fall into the latter camp. I would rather have an achievable goal and then do my best to exceed expectations by meeting the goal ahead of schedule or performing to levels above the goal. I’m not saying managers who set unrealistic goals are necessarily always wrong. Still, they do need to understand the dynamics of their employee base and—at a minimum—adjust their messaging accordingly. #### Related Items [[Goals]] [[Work]] [[Management]] [[Leadership]] [[Motivation]] [[Individuals]]