I see this every day of the week at work: A more important project comes along and resources are being shifted and projects, once important, are put on the backburner if not on hold. Some projects are never finished. Resources are burned – financially, manpower, motivation. The problem: the headless chicken syndrome. The direction changes constantly and the level of panic and pressure is rising when situations are not improved.
A similar situation caught me personally: I love doing sports and I love trying out new kinds of sports. For one year I had signed up for a Triathlon (including swimming, biking and running), a half marathon and a trail run – technically one would think those are 3 different kinds of sport to train for – not quite, they all require a solid muscle basis, especially trail running. On top of that I did not say no when a friend asked me to join for Pilates and Hyrox courses. All of a sudden I was caught up in 5 different types of sports – with some I wanted to compete. My week usually has 7 days so I would have had to do 2 sessions a day to fit everything in and still be able to compete. And yet I did not want to give up my social and work life either. I was caught in a dilemma where the day just did not have enough hours.
This is not a productivity problem. It is a clarity problem. Just make sure to know what is most important and what is least important in comparison with each other – considering you want to achieve a certain goal. Sounds simple right? Why is it that more often than not we are not capable of following through?
Research backs this up. Psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham have spent decades studying goal setting – and their findings are clear: goals only drive performance when they are specific and clear. Vague ambition without direction does not motivate – it paralyzes. Their research shows that clarity is not a nice-to-have. It is the foundation of everything else.
And neuroscience adds another layer: uncertainty increases cognitive load. When we don’t know what we are working towards, our brains work harder just to stay oriented – leaving less mental energy for actual execution. A Harvard Business Review analysis found that too many competing priorities don’t just slow people down. They create confusion, misalignment, and early burnout. We mistake being busy for being productive.
There is also a direct connection to flow – that state of complete focus and immersion I wrote about here. A study with over 100 professionals found that clear goals significantly increase the likelihood of entering a flow state at work. Without clarity, flow is almost impossible. With it, performance follows naturally.
So what did I do with my sport dilemma? I did a review. Fewer competitions, more of what I actually feel like doing. Less pressure, more fun and variety. And if a competition – then spontaneously, when it feels right. The relief was immediate. Not because I did less – but because I finally knew why I was doing what I was doing.
Every quarter I sit down with myself for a check-up: What are my goals? Where am I heading? Are my actions supporting those goals – and most importantly, how do they make me feel? This assessment shows me:
- Am I clear on what I want to achieve with a certain activity?
- Am I clear on how my actions contribute to my goals?
- What would be a reason to do something that doesn’t support my goals?
More often than not, we have a motivation that drives us unknowingly. But if we are honest with ourselves, there is always a why behind an action – or a non-action. Figuring out the why gives you the goal. Having the goal lets you break it down into actions. Reviewing the actions regularly lets you hold yourself accountable. To yourself. And only yourself.
How honest are you with yourself on where you really want to go? And why?