When setting a new goal for yourself, it can be tempting to tell others about it and hope they’ll cheer you on. But is it really wise to do that? 

It appears that the research says no. In fact, they found that publicly announcing your goals can actually undermine motivation and make you less likely to achieve them. 

The reason? When you tell others about your goals, it gives you a premature sense of accomplishment. Emotionally, you may feel like you've already started working towards the goal just by stating it out loud. But true satisfaction comes from actual work and because of that, you may feel like you received an undeserved win. That little reward often ends up taking a toll on your motivation, making you less driven to do the actual hard work needed to turn your goal into reality.

Sometimes, it’s better to let your quiet effort do the talking. Accomplishing something you promised yourself you would do is an incredibly rewarding experience that makes you feel able and self-reliant.

Another point: announcing your aims opens you up to input—wanted or not—from others. Naysayers might try to discourage you before you've even begun. So instead of staying focused on your own internal motivation, you are suddenly facing external pressure and expectations from others. 

Of course, this does not mean you should keep all your goals completely under wraps. There are some situations where sharing just the right amount of details can be helpful. 

• You can share with a trusted friend or mentor who will hold you accountable and provide encouragement along the way. Just be very selective about who you confide in. 

• If you're working towards a team or organizational goal, some transparency will likely be required to coordinate efforts. 

• The way you frame the goal matters. Instead of stating it as a matter of fact, express it as an intention or action plan. That small adjustment can help sustain — instead of diminish motivation. 

For personal goals though, keeping them secret—at least in the early stages—is generally advised. Don't rob yourself of the drive and desire to make it happen by celebrating too soon. Stay focused, work hard, and only go public (if you really want) once you've made meaningful progress and have built confidence.

Confidence is key here. First, you need to show up for yourself and prove to yourself that you are indeed capable of making things happen. The first person you need to impress is YOU because self-confidence is the best kind of motivation. 

Ultimately, however, you know yourself best. If shouting your goals from the rooftops keeps you fired up, go for it. But don't underestimate the motivational power of a little privacy and discretion either. 

Til the next blog!

About the Author 

Bernard Boodeea is the CEO of Life Intelligence Group and the original engineer and founder of TaskSpur, a goal management app and passion project. Bernard hopes to incorporate agile principles into the design of products that help individuals achieve their goals in life. 
 
 

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References

• Gollwitzer, P. M., Sheeran, P., Michalski, V., & Seifert, A. E. (2009). When intentions go public. Psychological Science, 20(5), 612–618. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02336.x  
• Granger, B. (2019, June 27). This is what you need in an AMAZING accountability partner. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-you-need-amazing-accountability-partner-brigitte-granger/  
• Falconer, E. (2016, May 3). Why keeping your goals secret is the best way to be successful. Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/keeping-goals-secret-best-way-successful/