For 2026, change your actions (not just your goals)
As we kick off 2026, many of us are setting goals like “grow revenue,” “be a better leader,” or “get healthier.”
The challenge?
Most goals focus on outcomes — and outcomes are lagging indicators, often influenced by things outside our control.
One of our favourites, Adam Grant, recently highlighted research showing that behaviour-change goals are around three times more effective than outcome-based goals when it comes to improving performance. The shift is simple but powerful:
👉 “What will I do differently each day?”
There’s strong science behind this. A large body of research on “implementation intentions” (often framed as if–then plans) shows that people who commit to specific actions dramatically increase the likelihood of achieving their goals. A major review of studies found that defining when, where, and how you’ll act makes follow-through far more likely.
So instead of:
- “Grow revenue by 20%”
- “Be a better leader”
- “Improve wellbeing”
Try shifting to:
- “Have 5 quality sales conversations every workday”
- “Schedule one meaningful development conversation each week”
- “Block 20 minutes a day for movement or recovery”
When you get the actions right, the outcomes tend to take care of themselves.
As you start the year, ask yourself (and your team):
What are the few behaviours that, done consistently, would make 2026 a great year?
If you’d like help turning big goals into clear, practical action plans — for yourself or your team — just let us know!
Reach out if you’d like some help making these goals SMARTER or OKRs
Here’s to a focused, intentional, and successful 2026.
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