The fourth of the 7 things not to do to achieve your goals is to not focus on other people.

1. Don’t include “shoulds” – do things because you have an appreciation for the benefit to be gained or the pain to be avoided that is associated with the goal
2. Don’t obsess over the bull’s eye – give yourself a range to shoot for instead of a single point. In addition to the target, identify a lesser amount that you would be pleased with. At the same time establish what you would consider a stretch goal.
3. Don’t “try” anything – write your goals in a way that identifies the actions you will take, not what you will try to do. In the words of the wise Jedi master, Yoda, “Do or do not … there is no try.” 

4. Don’t focus on other people

   It is very tempting and often a subtle nuance often overlooked, to include the actions of others in your goal setting.   However, setting goals around others’ behavior is not too effective and can even be demotivating.

   Setting a goal of having someone – a student, child, co-worker, employee – learn something is an example of a goal that focuses on other people. I cannot do anything about their learning. If they choose not to pay attention, study the material, do the homework, or in general not participate in the process, then you would have no control whatsoever over your ability to accomplish the goal.   How frustrating.

   If instead, you made their learning your objective and set engaging in good teaching practices as your goal, then you regain your control to affect the outcome.  By checking your outcomes relative to your objective, you can modify your approach.  You can also objectively measure your actions independent of other people’s actions to determine how well you did your part.

   Here’s some food for thought – in business, how might setting a goal of increased revenue be inappropriately focused on other people?

   The rest of the list:

5. Don’t ignore your past performance
6. Don’t forget who you are
7. Don’t be vague