We all have goals, whether they’re about how productive we’ll be at work or how fit we’ll get for the summer. But as often as we’ve set goals for ourselves, we’ve probably often struggled to reach them. Or, worse, we’ve abandoned them altogether.
Habits, on the other hand, tend to stick, right? We let the dog out, we brush our teeth, we check the mail when we get home. These “mindless” tasks don’t require cheerleading. We pull them off almost instinctively.
So how can we put the power of habits to work in, well, reaching our goals?
Why Setting Goals Won’t Work
It’s human nature to set goals for ourselves whether that’s self-improvement (this is the year I learn French!) or practical (no using the credit cards). Most resolutions fade by the end of January. But what, you ask, about goals we really want? Real behavior-changers that you just know intellectually will improve your life?
According to a Forbes interview with Harvard Business School Professor Max Bazerman, setting goals can actually create more harm than good. Bazerman argues that the negative side effects produced by goal-setting programs include “a rise in unethical behavior, over-focus on one area while neglecting other parts of the business, distorted risk preferences, corrosion of organizational culture, and reduced intrinsic motivation.” Workers can focus exclusively on the goal to the exclusion of other valuable work. That focus can lead to cheating and other dysfunctional behavior.
Create Habits Instead
Habits work differently. Habits naturally shift from something we think about doing, often without much internal debate (I should brush my teeth). Upon repetition, they shift seamlessly into a habit. Brush your teeth before bed often enough and you don’t even need to decide to do it. You just do it.
According to Psychology Today, habits can be hard to break because they’re mindlessly triggered in response to specific circumstances. But create the right habit, and those things that prompt the behavior become your invisible allies.
How can you create habits in your law firm to automate success?
To Your Continued Success,
Luis Scott
