6 Reasons Why People Fail to Achieve Their Goals

Whether you want to start your own business, double your customers or launch a new product, goal-setting is very important. It gives direction to your efforts and ensures that you stay focused on achieving your goals.

While goal-setting is becoming an increasingly common practice in personal development and the business field, it is not surprising that most people fail to achieve their goals.

Here are the top 6 reasons why people fail to achieve their goals.

1. Unclear or Unrealistic Goals

Suppose you decide that you want to increase the sales of your company. But, if there is an economic downturn and your industry has been affected severely, then it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve this goal.

Similarly, just saying you want to increase your sales and not deciding on any specifics increases your chances of never achieving that goal.

To overcome this, you can set SMART goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2. Lack of Sufficient Planning

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Planning gives a very clear idea of what you should do, when, and how?

Without a plan, you won’t have a clear idea of what you are supposed to do and can get easily distracted by everyday life, resulting in non-attainment of your goals.

Suppose, you want to launch your product in a new market. Will you need to hire a consultant? How much budget should you allocate? Should you formulate a special team to execute and monitor the launch?

3. No Deadline

A deadline helps you stay focused and committed to your goal.

When you put a deadline, like increasing the customer base by 15% by the end of the next quarter, it puts pressure on you. You are more likely to take the necessary actions to achieve this goal and avoid any distractions that might come in your way.

4. Overcommitment

We want to achieve many things fast. To do so, we may commit to multiple goals and projects, which may exceed our capacity. In doing so, one may feel stressed out and overwhelmed and may end up achieving none of the goals.

It is important to be mindful of our capacity and only commit to goals that are realistic and achievable.

Learning time management techniques like prioritization and delegation can ensure that you remain focused on the most important goals.

5. Fear of Failure

Even if you set your goals correctly, and have a clear plan, fear of failure can hold you back from taking any productive action.

It can trigger threat responses. In a flight response, you may engage in actions that are not related to your goal, like eating, hanging out, etc. A freeze response can cripple you and prevent you from taking any action at all. Both the responses prevent you from taking action related to your goals.

One of the root causes of fear of failure is perfectionism. You should identify the causes of fear of failure and take helpful measures to prevent it from sabotaging your goals.

6. Procrastination

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, procrastination is the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.

Procrastination can keep you from completing tasks that are necessary to achieve your goals.

One of the most effective techniques to overcome procrastination is by sharing your goals and plans with someone. It holds you accountable and if you don’t complete your tasks; you risk being looked lazy or like a failure.

Goal achievement is seldom easy and requires perseverance. Knowing some of the common challenges and their solutions can significantly increase your chances of achieving your goals.

United SMEs is committed to helping businesses in achieving their goals. Contact us today to get reliable, quick, and effortless solutions to your most common business problems.